Haven’t we heard it all already…? The Western propaganda machine has been in its element for the better part of a year to belittle and torment Hong Kong. It kind of started with the unfortunate proposal of the extradition law and ensuing demonstrations that turned into ugly riots. The city was in distress more than once last year, including violent street fights between youth protesters and police, the burning of public property, and the seizure of university campuses.
Hong Kong could barely take a breather before the health crisis took a grip on it, albeit to a comparably limited extent in hindsight. The rhetoric amid the US-China conflict had not abated post the excruciating phase one trade agreement and flared up again as China was accused of dropping the ball on global virus communication and Hong Kong becoming ever more Washington’s pressure point against Beijing.
As the pandemic rolled into the West, America and Europe have been preoccupied with their own problems, and Beijing seized the moment. In order to prevent more resistance against a perceived intrusion of China into the former colony, a new security law was introduced and will be imposed by Beijing to quell renewed rioting after the health crisis had been brought under control. Subsequently, US Congress withdrew the special status from Hong Kong and a few US sanctions have since been imposed.
The background noise to all this has been that Hong Kong is losing its cherished freedom to China’s reign, at least prematurely and before the 50-year agreement to keep the city’s autonomy intact until it runs out in 2047. Critics have not held back drawing up horror scenarios that will subjugate Hong Kong to Beijing rule, endanger the personal safety of residents, and create a perception of a coming exodus of both expatriates and Hong Kongers alike.
Needless to say that nothing of the sort has materialised. To be sure, some expats have left and will inevitably leave but more so due to the economic downturn that riots and virus have caused. Hong Kongers themselves are undoubtedly consulting with emigration specialists amid the wave of fear and uncertainty, but ultimately what they are looking for is a hedge against a worst-case scenario that will not come into being. Hedging they will, but leave they will not.
And even if there was a net outflow of people from the city, Hong Kong will not descend into an empty desert of high-rises. Mainland Chinese are aplenty and happy to make up the shortfall. After all, Hong Kong is a Chinese city and an incremental part of the Greater Bay Area. Or should we say there is no other future for Hong Kong to speak of than embrace the most dynamic economic region on earth and bring to the table the most valuable proposition of one-country-two-systems?
Now to the mainstream media’s permanent insinuation that Hong Kong will inevitably lose out to Singapore… businesses and their expatriate staff relocating in troves to escape China’s encroachment into one of the freest societies on the planet. To be fair, there has always been an exchange of human resources between the two cities, and their respective governments have never shied away from a friendly competitive go at each other.
But to give credence to the notion of an exodus from Hong Kong to Singapore, to flee from suppression and nestle down in the blessed land of freedom? We have got to be kidding ourselves! If you aren’t a rioter damaging public property and hurting innocent people, and if you hold permission to assemble and demonstrate for a worthy cause, you will have no issue doing that in Hong Kong, at least so far and as long as a peaceful nature could be assumed. I am not even sure one can do that in Singapore.
Let me touch on an incident last week. As it will probably not have escaped your attention, seven people were fined in Singapore’s court over flouting safe distancing rules in Robertson Quay during the circuit breaker. Not only were they fined, something that could equally have happened to careless residents in Hong Kong or anywhere else, but they were also heftily fined at 9,000 dollars each. Also, they were publicly named and shamed, their nationalities revealed, pictures of them in the papers and all. Just check out that
article.
That not being enough, six of the seven had their work passes revoked and were banned from taking up employment in Singapore ever again. And we all know what that means… they will have to leave Singapore very shortly and probably for good, except the one from beloved Austria it appears, who is on a permanent residency, at least for the remainder of his 5 years when his status is up for review. Good luck with that. Now, I don’t think that would have happened in Hong Kong.
With all sympathy for harsh measures to discipline Singaporean residents, does uprooting a person, banishing him or her from his or her home, and very potentially destroy his or her professional career and existence over an offence like this make the city-state a freer society than Hong Kong? I don’t think so. On the contrary, I wouldn’t be surprised if people allegedly so eagerly planning their move to Singapore or contemplating one will have taken note and are having second thoughts.
A friend of mine pointed me to a
website that calibrates the categories of economic freedom, political freedom, and press freedom into a so-called yearly Freedom Index. Hong Kong is ranked at 40, and Singapore at 82. By the way, America has not made it any higher up than rank 27. I guess there is a point to be had there. Maybe the adoption of the new security law will negatively impact Hong Kong’s ranking in the index, but maybe not so much.
The category of political freedom had already been marked down significantly, and the pundits are now pointing to press freedom to be on the chopping block. I wouldn’t be so sure. If in doubt, Hong Kong’s critics should make the effort of looking up the city’s flagship publication, the South China Morning Post. I am always amazed how independent and critical their reporting and op-eds have been, consistently and unfazed by any alleged pressure from Beijing.
Never forget, the Post is owned by one Jack Ma, former chairman of Alibaba and himself a member of the Communist Party. If that is any guide, I wouldn’t be all too worried about freedom of mind and speech in Hong Kong, as long as it is constructive and not hate speech or fake news.
