HK AND MAINLAND

A RELATION WITH COMPLEXITY

Gary Wong

OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
A Metaphorical Story, An adopted son and the Reunion after years of Seperation?

EXAMPLES illustrating the complicated relations

Political Economic Social

CONCLUSION

WHAT IS THE RELATION BETWEEN THEM?

A METAPHORICAL STORY
A Chinese kid was adopted by a British family? Years of Separation

Upbringing, Parenting, Guardianship in British, Western Style?

Reunion bringsproblems?

WHAT PROBLEMS COMPLICATE THIS RELATION?

Congruence OR Incongruence? Convergence OR Divergence? Independence OR Interdependence? Getting to know each other? In way way?

Getting along with each other?

How to develop mutual trust? Emotional link? Any? Benefiting each other?/Taking advantages of each other?

FROM A POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE

One Country, Two Systems - Basic Law & its interpretations

From the past till the present: (i) 4 June incident

(ii) 1 July 2003 March

(iii) 5-district Referendum (iv) Chief Executive election

Louise Lam

ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS

Proposed by Deng Xiaoping, a leader of PRC Basic Law as a constitutional document of HK

BASIC LAW
Art 5: The socialist system and policies shall not be practised in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the previous capitalist system and way of life shall remain unchanged for 50 years Art 12: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be a local administrative region of the Peoples Republic of China, which shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy and come directly under the Central Peoples Government

BASIC LAW
The Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong has the power of final adjudication The Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress has the power of final interpretation of the Basic Law.

FOUR INTERPRETATIONS OF THE BASIC LAW BY NPCSC

1st: Ng Ka Ling v Director of Immigration in 1999 2nd: Universal suffrage in 2007 & 2008 3rd : The term of the new Chief Executive in 2004 4th : Democratic Republic of Congo v FG Hemisphere Associates LLC in 2011

1ST INTERPRETATION
CFA ruled that children of parents who have the right of abode in Hong Kong also have the right of abode, irrespective of whether the parents are permanent residents at the time of their birth HK govt sought interpretation of Basic Law on Art 22 & 24

NPCSC overturned the decision of CFA

POLITICAL & LEGAL SIGNIFICANCE

The decisions made by CFA are not final NPCSC has overriding power on CFA China has controlling power in HK on controversial issues

2ND INTERPRETATION
Pan-democrats call for double universal suffrage of Chief Executive and Legislative Council in 2007 & 2008 NPCSC initiate interpretations of Basic Law Annex I & II by stipulating procedures to change electoral methods Former CE, Tung Chee Hwa followed the new procedure

POLITICAL & LEGAL SIGNIFICANCE

China can amend the Basic Law easily in the name of interpretation China fears democracy in HK is developing too fast & new CE elected by people does not act accordance to Chinas will China controls the pace of democratization of HK by refusing double universal suffrage in 2007 & 2008

(I) 4 JUNE INCIDENT

In 1989, Hu Yaobang, a party official calling for political liberalization died Protests broke out in many large cities in China Students gathered in Tiananmen Square in Beijing to encourage continued economic liberalizations & political reform 4 June, Peoples Liberation Army used tanks & troops & life fire to clear the area of protestors Communist Party banned protests & arrested protestors in China since then

POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Communist Party refused to admit massacre of its people until now Sino-British Joint Declaration was signed in 1985, stating sovereignty of HK transferred from Britain to China HK people feared freedom in HK would be infringed after handover to China, causing massive emigration of HK people

(II) 1 JULY 2003 MARCH

Largest-scaled protest in HK since 1997 HK govt proposed a bill to restrict freedom of HK people & their rights Pan-democrats initiated protest & 0.5 million protested for abolition of Basic Law Art 23 HK government shelved laws in view of strong opposition Opposition of people in HK imposed threat to China

(III) 5-DISTRICT REFERENDUM

Initiated by Civic Party & League of Social Democrats to oppose to HK govts 2010 constitutional reform package Referendum was contravening Basic Law 5 LegCo members resigned & were elected back Threat to China for using democratic means to oppose to govt proposals

(IV) CHIEF EXECUTIVE ELECTION

Candidates running for 2017 CE election: Henry Tang & CY Leung CE was elected by Election Committee of 1200 people, members of Election Committee are not elected by general public

New CE needs to win the support of HK people AND obtain the approval of the Central Peoples Government

VS

REMARKS
Interacting forces between HK & China Under the framework of One Country, Two Systems China exerted controlling power over HK HK sought to respond/resist to Chinas controlling power

AN ECONOMIC ASPECT
ELVIS TSE

MAINLAND AND HONG KONG CLOSER ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENT (CEPA)

- Free trade agreement between Mainland and HK - Main text, 6 annexes, 6 supplements

CEPA
- opens up huge markets for HK goods & services - adopts a building block approach

- win-win agreement
To HK: HK businesses to gain greater access to the Mainland market

To Mainland: Mainland enterprises to reach out to the global market

CEPA
3 broad areas
-Trade in goods

-Trade in services
-Trade and Investment facilitation

MAINLAND ENTERPRISE AND HK

A-share listing - Mainland companies listed in HK: 42% of all listed companies in HK
- Market capitalization of Mainland companies listed in HK: 57% of all - HK finance closely related to Mainland financial market

INDIVIDUAL VISIT SCHEME

- Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao, - Travelling on individual basis - More and more cities included in the scheme

INDIVIDUAL VISIT SCHEME

- A rise in the tourism, thus employment rate: 1. Immediate in the no. of Mainland visitors Oct 1 ; May 1; New Year Golden Week

2. 'positive by-product' to attract overseas travelers to HK

- A rise in investment: the authorized saving of renminbi in HK

MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL HUB

- Influx of ppl to enjoy our medical and educational services

- 2009/10 Policy Address: new industries

COMPETITION WITH SHANGHAI

- Arouse HKs sense of competition with Shanghai

- More incentive to remain HKs uniqueness as a world city

Ultimate goal: win-win

BUT

Contradiction

MEDICAL RESOURCES INSUFFICIENCY

- Too many mothers-to-be from Mainland to give birth here - Insufficient measures to prevent them coming - Long-term, using too much of our public resources

ZERO-CHARGE TOURIST GROUP

- Zero travelling fee
- Commission from forced-shopping - Impolite tourist guide Tourist guide Chuen

SHOPPING SPREE
- HK products: guaranteed quality
- Food necessities & electronic gadgets - Huge revenue - Huge consumption shortage - Market price

- Affect livelihood of HK ppl

REAL ESTATE
- Investment in luxurious residential and commercial units - Boost the demand thereby market price

- Developers construct more luxurious flats and less ordinary flats

- Less HK ppl can afford

WORRY
e.g. Wenzhou tourists

GREY PRODUCTS
New industry? Milk powder Electronic gadgets By Mainland commuter By local ppl (including students and elderly) Poor security, esp. Sheung Shui areas

Chang Chen

WHERE DOSE HK IDENTITY COME FROM?

Cut the connection with mainland Anxiety and Uncertainty for the future: Sense of priority brought by rising economy and advanced society HK Identity: largely the legacy of Chinese values hybridized with the British imposed rituals and norms.

TRANSITION AFTER HANDOVER TILL NOW

Survey Data:
Source: Negotiating Local and National Identifications: Hong Kong Identity, Surveys 1996-2006

The most prominent category: Hongkongers but also Chinese Strong desire to be both HongKongers and Chinese, reflecting dual nature of Hong Kong/Chinese identity.

Evidence: Misperceptions and Distrust

Patriotism:
News: Compulsory patriotic education in primary and secondary school: It stirs up fear of political brainwashing among the public

Evidence: Misperceptions and Distrust Patriotism: I want to argue that the patriotic education should not be blamed for the reasons: (i) international norm to cultivate citizens love for the nation (ii) Loving the nation do not equals to support the party.

Evidence: Misperceptions and Distrust Segregation/Discrimination: a sense of priority Capitalism is more advanced Image of mainlanders: rich but lesscultivated, rude Issues: Golden week, purchase large amount of milk powder, pregnant women

Evidence: Misperceptions and Distrust

Segregation/Discrimination: a sense of priority Lack of morality and responsibility, China need deeper social reform , a poor girl little was left to death on the road after a hitand-run by two cars, none of the 18 people who past by helped her

HOW TO ACHIEVE A STABLE HK IDENTITY, THUS A STABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH MAINLAND? ---FROM HK PERSPECTIVE
Adjust HKs position to fit in China: HK identity would remain strong. More opportunities than threats: Build mutual trust. Communication help to eliminate misperceptions:

More mainland student come to study in HK, exchange to mainland,

The 2011-12 Policy Address

HOW TO ACHIEVE A STABLE HK IDENTITY, THUS A STABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH MAINLAND? ---FROM MAINLAND PERSPECTIVE

Do not push HK to accept Chinese identity: a unique HK identity would also benefit China by increasing its diversity. Embrace social and political reform: increase the quality of population by education.

HOW TO ACHIEVE A STABLE HK IDENTITY, THUS A STABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH MAINLAND? ---FROM HK PERSPECTIVE
After the train crash in Wenzhou, China, please stop your flying pace, wait for your people, wait for your soul, wait for your morality, wait for your conscience! Dont let the train run out off track, dont let the bridges collapse, dont let the roads become traps, dont let houses become ruins. Walk slowly, allowing every life to have freedom and dignity. No one should be left behind by our era. Mainland dose exist social problems, which need our efforts. It would take a long time to increase the quality of the population through education.

Conclusion:
Under the change of both HK and China, a stable HK identity would contribute to a healthier relations with mainland.

CONCLUSION- CHANGE AND CONTINUITY

A relation with contradictions and complexity. Opportunities or challenges?

Path to democracy? Impetus or obstacle?

One Country Two System SAR Hong Kong Province? 50 years no change?

 Hong Kong people rule HK? Autonomy More Intervention? Secured position of Hong Kong? Replaced by Shanghai? HK Chinese, Hong Kongers Chinese?

LAST QUESTIONS

Will Hong Kong be more Hong Kong?

Will Hong Kong be more China?

END
Presented By Louise

Chen Chang
Elvis Gary