The Crunch Moment Arrives

There is only one political issue in Hong Kong at this time; the proposed amendments to extradition arrangements.

​It’s sucking up all the political oxygen as the community once again polarises along ‘blue’ and ‘yellow’ lines brought forth by Occupy. 

My initial opinion remains mostly unchanged. I favour the amendments, although I’m honest enough to see issues with the safeguards that need attention. The trick will be enhancing those safeguards, but not at the risk of making the amendment non-functional.

Much debate continues as the government presses ahead with modified proposals — meanwhile, the forces of resistance fight — literally — to derail the bill.  

To recap, Hong Kong has no extradition arrangements with Taiwan, Macau or the Mainland. This bizarre situation means Hong Kong is a safe refuge for criminals, including a man accused of killing his girlfriend in Taiwan. She was pregnant at the time. He fled back to Hong Kong, but can’t face charges for murder here.

The proposed amendments came about to deal with this young man. That fact is now somewhat lost. In simple terms, the whole matter has evolved into a much broader debate around the fairness of the Mainland courts.

With this, is conflated a discussion on the ability of the Chinese State to reach into Hong Kong using legal means to seize its opponents. ‘Well water mixing with river water’ or ‘removing the firewall’ sums up the apprehension.

Objectors to the amendment include groups who would generally support the government. Business leaders expressed reservations, citing the loose interpretation of the law on the Mainland. They asserted that commercial disputes often fall foul of the criminal law.

In response, the government granted them concessions that removed ‘economic’ crimes from the list of offences. I have to say that this terrible precedent de-facto acknowledges that there is a problem with China’s legal system. 

Allied in challenging the amendments, is a potent mix of the legal community, teachers, accountants and strident anti-China groups.  Further, overseas governments are involved in expressing concerns.

​Of course, Chris Patten has had his say. He probably sees another book in the issue and needs to segue in at any cost. I’ve yet to hear from him a proposal that would have the criminals face justice. 

In the ongoing debate, I’ve heard courteous and well-reasoned positions from several knowledgable people.

​Faced with persuasive, balanced arguments, you can understand why concerns arise. Yet, none of this is insurmountable. 

If Canada is capable of rendering suspects back to China, one has to ask why can’t Hong Kong?

Sadly, the opposition in LegCo — our parliament — is led by the snarling Claudio Mo and her crew of goons. For them, there is no compromise, no ground to give as everything that China touches is evil.

​They repudiate anyone who takes another path as a traitor. Hence the violence we’ve seen in the LegCo Chamber and its adjoining corridors. 

The false narrative put about by the radical opposition has laid the seeds of misconception and anxiety. A university graduate in her mid-twenties told me she feared snatching off the streets for rendition to the Mainland.

​She’d posted pro-democracy messages on her Facebook page. This lady works for a Mainland Chinese bank and spends at least one week a month in Shenzhen. 

I suggested that if the Mainland authorities had an interest in her Facebook postings, which I doubt, why had they not detained her in Shenzhen. What followed was a convoluted explanation, without an element of rational thought. It came as a shock to me that such an ‘educated’ person didn’t see the sheer silliness of her reasoning. 

But then again, the doyen of the opposition Martin Lee repeatedly claimed before and since 1997, that he’d end his days in a Chinese gulag.  In the meantime, he moves in and out of Hong Kong travelling to such places as Washington to badmouth China.

But then the opposition has their heroes, their villains and their truth. Alas, there is a greater truth. Hong Kong cannot conclude an extradition treaty with Taiwan while ignoring the Mainland. Such a state of affairs is politically unacceptable. 

Why? Well, because Beijing doesn’t recognise Taiwan as a separate entity; to them, it’s a renege province. Thus it’s impossible for the Hong Kong government, which is subordinate to Beijing, to go it alone.

Doubtless, we cannot stand still. Here’s an idea. Instead of demonising the Chinese legal system, how about seizing the opportunity to engage.  Take the occasion to make the Mainland aware of our expectations as regards safeguards and protocols.

​After all, in 2047, that much acclaimed ‘firewall’ is no longer a certainty. Perhaps it would be best to engage now, and plants some seeds of reform.

For that, to work, we’d need to move away from the bile and chanting of ‘four legs good, two legs bad’ doctrine of the radical opposition. On Sunday, a march against the amendments takes place. 

​A large turn-out could force the government’s hand. Do not forget they backed down on Article 23 following the massive showing of discontent in 2003. The crunch moment is close. Let’ see. ​