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ABSTRACT
This article explains why Hong Kong is a “torn city” with divisions in society resulting from the historical alignment of the city with the West, and the economic and political integration with Mainland China that reflects the vision of the governing and business elite of the city being part of the rise of China. The “torn city” reflects cultural divisions between the Western model of capitalism and governance and the communist system of the People's Republic of China. This cultural division and the resultant popular discontent have been exacerbated by poor governance in Hong Kong with a local government and the business elite that has resisted changes in governance to improve the welfare of those of the population who have not benefitted from economic growth in the city.
Notes
1 “Torn City” is a term adapted from the “Clash of Civilizations” by Samuel P. Huntington, first published in Foreign Affairs in 1993 and expanded further in his book in 1996. Huntington suggested that “The great divisions among humankind will be and the dominating source of conflict will be cultural”, and that “The fault lines of civilization will be the battle lines of the future”. Huntington described “torn countries” that look both West and East.
2 Professor John M. Carrol, A Concise History of Hong Kong. Hong Kong University Press, 2007, p. 2.
3 Leo Goodstadt, Poverty in the Midst of Affluence. Hong Kong University Press, 2013, p. 6.
4 Hong Kong Government, Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong Poverty Situation Report 2017, November 2018, https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp461.jsp?productCode=B9XX0005 (accessed 9 July 2020).
5 Goodstadt, op. cit, p. 223.
6 Electoral Affairs Commission, Government of the HKSAR, ‘Function of the Election Committee’. https://www.eac.hk/en/ecse/function.htm (accessed 9 July 2020).
7 The Hong Kong SAR Government, ‘Article 23, The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China’. https://www.basiclaw.gov.hk/en/basiclawtext/chapter_2.html (accessed 9 July 2020).
8 State Council of the Peoples Republic of China, ‘The Practice of The ‘One Country Two Systems’ Policy in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’. June 2014, Beijing, http://english.www.gov.cn/archive/white_paper/2014/08/23/content_281474982986578.htm (accessed 9 July 2020).
9 Ibid.
10 Standing Committee of the National Peoples’ Congress, ‘Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Issues Relating to the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by Universal Suffrage and on the Method for Forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’. South China Morning Post, August 31, 2014, https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1582245/full-text-npc-standing-committee-decision-hong-kong-2017-election (accessed 9 July 2020).
11 ‘Hong Kong: Democracy Rally Draws 510,000 Protesters’. BBC News, July 2, 2014, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28102644 (accessed 9 July 2020).
12 Joshua Wong, Secretary General of Demosisto, ‘The 5 Demands from People’. Twitter, October 2, 2019, https://twitter.com/joshuawongcf/status/1179332184580210689 (accessed 9 July 2020).
13 The Government of the HKSAR, ‘Law and Order Situation in 2019’. March 2, 2020, https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202003/02/P2020030200619.htm (accessed 9 July 2020).
14 John Lee Ka Chiu, Secretary for Security, The Government of the Hong Kong SAR, ‘Terrorism Breeds Support for the Establishment of a National Security legal System and Enforcement Mechanism’. May 24, 2020, https://www.sb.gov.hk/eng/articles/articles_2020_05_24.htm (accessed 9 July 2020).
15 Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, ‘On the Whole do You Have Confidence in One Country Two Systems (6/1993 – 2/2020)’. https://www.hkupop.hku.hk/pori_table_chart/Trust/K006_Conf_OCTS/K006_chart.html (accessed 9 July 2020).
16 Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, ‘Are you Satisfied with the Performance of the HKSAR Government? (7/1997 – 5/2020)’. https://www.hkupop.hku.hk/pori_table_chart/HKSARPerformance/H001/H001_chart.html (accessed 9 July 2020).
17 Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, ‘Are You Satisfied with the Performance of the Hong Kong Police? (7/1997 – 5/2020)’. https://www.pori.hk/pop-poll/disciplinary-force/x001/satisfaction?rq=police (accessed 9 July 2020).
18 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, ‘A Policy of “One Country Two Systems” on Taiwan’. Undated, https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/ziliao_665539/3602_665543/3604_665547/t18027.shtml (accessed 25 May 2020).
19 Government of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region, ‘The Basic Law and Hong Kong - The 15th Anniversary of Reunification with the Motherland, Chapter 1, Drafting and Promulgation of the Basic Law and Hong Kong’s Reunification with the Motherland’. 2012, https://www.basiclaw.gov.hk/en/publications/book/15anniversary_reunification_ch1_1.pdf (accessed 9 July 2020).
20 Ibid.
21 Government of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region, Constitutional Affairs Bureau, ‘The Joint Declaration, Annex I, Elaboration by the Government of the People’s Republic of China of its Basic Policies Regarding Hong Kong’. https://www.cmab.gov.hk/en/issues/jd3.htm (accessed 9 July 2020).
22 The National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, ‘Constitution of the People’s Republic of China’. http://www.npc.gov.cn/zgrdw/englishnpc/Constitution/2007-11/15/content_1372963.htm (accessed 9 July 2020).
23 Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR, ‘Luo Huining Biography’. Undated, http://www.locpg.gov.cn/zjzlb/2020-01/04/c_1210425197.htm (accessed 9 July 2020).
24 ‘Key Facts about New Head of China’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong’. Reuters, January 6, 2020, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-honkong-china-liaison-factbox/key-facts-about-new-head-of-chinas-liaison-office-in-hong-kong-idUSKBN1Z50AS (accessed 9 July 2020).
25 The National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, ‘Highlights of China’s Decision on Hong Kong National Security Legislation’. May 29, 2020, http://www.npc.gov.cn/englishnpc/c23934/202005/6c6dab6edcdc4dbeac5ffb38ef4002f0.shtml (accessed 9 July 2020).
26 US Department of State, ‘PRC National People’s Congress Proposal on Hong Kong National Security Legislation’. May 27, 2020, https://www.state.gov/prc-national-peoples-congress-proposal-on-hong-kong-national-security-legislation/ (accessed 9 July 2020).
27 Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, ‘Generally speaking are your feelings about the Mainland Government positive or negative?’. (In January 2020, 58.9% of respondents answered “Negative”), https://www.pori.hk/pop-poll/government/v003 (accessed 9 July 2020).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Martin Purbrick
Martin Purbrick lived and worked in Asia for over 32 years. He is a former Royal Hong Kong Police officer whose service included Special Branch engaged in counter-terrorism intelligence. Since leaving the police in 2000, he has worked in the security industry for various corporations. He formerly served as local honorary RSAA secretary in Hong Kong, and has written previously for the Asian Affairs Journal. Email: [email protected]