In just 74 pages, the authors explain how the British ‘story’ of a robust post-1997 agreement that would protect Hong Kong against China the Ogre was the dominant story for world opinion.

The Hong Kong story was in fact the perfect allegory of the larger geopolitical clashes of ‘capitalism vs. communism’, ‘democracy vs. authoritarianism’, and ‘freedom vs control.’ It was in other words, an allegory of the desirable West and undesirable East.
The problem with that line of thinking for Hong Kong—as is was destined to be reunified with the People’s Republic of China—is that it essentially pitched what Hong Kong represented against what mainland China represented. Communism would never, or at least could not be seen to, succeed. The West was ‘free’ and ‘rich and China was ‘oppressive’ and ‘poor’.
The British Hong Kong narrative concluded that for ‘one country, two systems’ to work, Hong Kong needed to be able to stand apart from the mainland or even resist it. (p.14)

Universal suffrage and free elections became the bellwether indicator for the health of post-1997 Hong Kong and an albatross around Hong Kong’s neck because no other form of progress is deemed to be enough. And that ‘British’ version of the Hong Kong story simply isn’t a convincing narrative for the people of Hong Kong any more.
Efforts to create alternatives are likewise wanting. In 2004 a set of ‘core values’ was advanced: freedom, rule of law, transparency, justice and inclusiveness. But these core values only emphasise the difference between the two systems. Recasting Hong Kong based on its business prowess and as a regional hub, as a ‘superconductor’ for the world with China, is too narrow a focus. The new narrative needs to incorporate a wider framework than that.
Chapter 2, which explains in palatable detail why the Chinese regard their history as traumatic and humiliating, is essential reading for everybody. I did not know, for example, that China supplied thousands of non-combatant labourers to aid the allies in WW1, many of whom died or were injured—but despite this contribution, China was betrayed at the Paris Peace Conference by Britain and the European powers. The chapter also shows how this history impacts on China’s fear of internal unrest and foreign intrusion, and how it drives their preoccupation with national security.

To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2018/10/30/no-third-person-rewriting-the-hong-kong-stor... ( )