Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Diana]

It seems to me that China is going back on its promise of democracy and free elections to the people of Hong Kong when it was turned over to them. There are some people in Hong Kong protesting the security policies of China and even worried about China denying them the right to vote in 2007. Some people in Hong Kong are questioning the "one country, two system" promised by China. According to one news article:

In response, pro-democracy campaigners will argue that this makes it all the more important for people to register their protest at the ballot box. The other significance of China's decision could be the effect it has elsewhere - in Taiwan for instance. The system agreed for Hong Kong of 'One Country, Two Systems' was originally conceived as a model for Taiwan. But with pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong complaining that Beijing has killed off the system, in Taipei people may be asking themselves: "If that's what autonomy within China amounts to, is it really what we want?"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3662059.stm

Before the handover of Hong Kong, China had promised the people of Hong Kong that they will hold their free elections on 2008. However, China has recently stated that those elections will not be held because they feel that the people of Hong Kong are not ready for it. This, of course has angered many citizens in Hong Kong especially those who are pro-democracy. Hong Kong's mini-constitution - known as the Basic Law - sets out full democracy as an eventual goal, but the timing for its achievement is ambiguously stated.

Democracy campaigners argue that China and Mr Tung are undermining Hong Kong's "high degree of autonomy", as promised under a system that became known as "one country, two systems" when Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3658503.stm

If Taiwan sees that China is not fulfilling its promise to the people of Hong Kong under the "one country, two system" I don't think Taiwan would even consider being under that same agreement with China. As for the citizens of Hong Kong, what do you think they will do?

[lovingworld626]

What happened to Hongkong was an excellent example for people in Taiwan to see. "one country two systems" is a lie. Watch! Hongkong will be gradually taken away all its rights and freedom. I give it 10 years. One day Hongkong people will learn communism for free!

[Diana]

I have read about the recent mass protest in Hong Kong. Many people there already feel that China is violating their civil rights. I'm sure Taiwan is watching very closely. If China cannot keep its promise to Hong Kong, then Hong Kong may stand beside Taiwan against China.

I hope China remembers what happened to the Soviet Union. The best solution is for China to keep its promise to Hong Kong and to reform China's government to match a more democratic government like in Taiwan.

[Felicia]

i'm afraid Taiwan is quite different from Hongkong.
Everybody has his or her right to decide his or her life, although sometimes their choices are wrong.
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[Passerby]

China is much agressive to everything it's interested in. To take something from it seems entirely an unconquerable mission. Hong Kong was colonized by the foreign blood, now with its return to the mother hug, poeple ther are waking up from the promises of China.

It's undeniable to guess that mainland China is reforming Hong Kong but under the democracy of this globalization, China will no longer be able to resort to the extreme methods to reach its needs. I'll bring this back to its Britain-governed era. Was it really striving? Please forgive me for my dare presumption. For those living still in poverty, has it been any different between the two world? To say this, it's certainly extreme but the general picture is that Hong Kong is going to be relive again, first die then rebirth, I think it's no China's hand in it, it all tends to develop like this no matter who's in power.

Passerby
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