NEW YORK (MintPress) – “One country, two systems” is supposed to define the way Hong Kong is governed. The idea, proposed by then Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in the early 1980s, was the principle behind Britain’s handover of the former colony on July 1, 1997.
Indeed, the Hong Kong Basic Law, the territory’s constitution, reads, “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.”
But over the past fifteen years, critics have accused Beijing of extensive behind-the-scenes meddling in political, electoral, academic, media and legal arenas.
Tens of thousands of protesters marked this year’s anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty with pro-democracy marches through the streets of the city. Although it is an annual event, Sunday’s demonstration was the largest since the one in 2003, which helped bring down the first Beijing-backed chief executive, Tung Chee Hwa.
Hundreds of police formed a tight cordon along the harbor front, where the handover took place, while several demonstrators were taken away in a police van.
“Hong Kong has freedoms, and we have the right to protest. Why do you even stop us from walking?” shouted legislator Lee Cheuk-yan.
New leader scorned
Not far away, visiting Chinese president Hu Jintao, swore in a new chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, called CY by locals, who many see as too close to China’s Communist Party. Banners ranged from “F.U.C.Y.” to pictures of Leung with the long nose of Pinocchio.
He delivered his inaugural speech in Mandarin, not the local dialect, Cantonese.
Hu expressed his confidence in Hong Kong’s role as a free, law-abiding society, but in a sign of his Beijing concern about recent tensions, he appealed for unity.
“While we recognise Hong Kong’s achievements 15 years after the handover, we must also be conscious of the deep disagreements and problems in Hong Kong society,” he said.
There were demands from the streets for a more representative government to replace a system in which Leung, a self-made millionaire, was chosen by 689 members of a 1,200-member hand-picked committee largely tied to Beijing.
“We don’t like CY,” said retired teacher K.Y. Tsang. “We don’t like to see the intervention of China into our affairs.”
Widespread discontent
In addition to the calls for greater democracy, many protesters expressed anger about the phenomenal wealth gap, with income inequality at its highest level in 40 years, sky-high property prices, serious air pollution, rampant corruption and human rights abuses on the mainland.
A statement from Leung’s new administration insisted his government would uphold the “core values” of Hong Kong, a catch phrase meant to cover freedom of expression and assembly as well as the rule of law.
But many were not convinced. “There is a lot of unfairness here,” said a young teacher. “And the government is not doing so well. It is leaning toward corporate and business persons. They don’t represent us.”
Beijing meanwhile tried to appease the public by announcing a host of new economic initiatives to coincide with Hu’s visit, including reforms in a new business zone in the nearby Chinese city of Shenzhen.
But a recent University of Hong Kong poll revealed that “negative” feelings towards the Chinese government are at a record high.
Many protesters, in fact, were waving the Hong Kong colonial flag, a combination of Britain’s Union Jack with the with the pre-1997 Hong Kong coat of arms.
Leung has his work cut out for him.