Steve Tsang

Lessons from Hong Kong’s protests: Carrie Lam is a liability, the leadership selection process doesn’t work, but the right kind of demonstration can

Hong Kong’s protesters should remember they have succeeded so far because of Carrie Lam’s political ineptitude in seeking to rush the extradition bill through the legislature, and because their resistance hasn’t directly challenged Beijing

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Steve Tsang

Published: 6:00am, 29 Jun 2019Updated: 6:00am, 29 Jun 2019

The massive protests in Hong Kong in recent weeks have showed the depth of its citizens’ determination to uphold their democratic way of life – something they were supposedly guaranteed when Britain returned sovereignty over the city to China in 1997. Moreover, the protests hold three powerful lessons: for Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, for the demonstrators themselves, and for China’s rulers.

Over the past few years, the Chinese authorities have steadily increased their interference in Hong Kong’s affairs, gradually eroding the “one country, two systems” principle that was meant to ensure a “high degree of autonomy” for the city after 1997. The current crisis stems from China’s desire for a legal framework to return fugitives from the mainland who have allegedly used the city as a safe haven for ill-gotten wealth.

In many respects, the extradition law introduced by Lam represented an extension of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign to Hong Kong, and was intended to avoid further incidents like Chinese security officers’ 2017 abduction of tycoon Xiao Jianhua from the city.

There is no evidence that China gave Lam detailed instructions on enacting the law. Instead, she seems to have taken it upon herself to introduce it. However, Lam exceeded her remit by making the proposed extradition law applicable not only to fugitive mainland Chinese, but also to all ordinary Hong Kong citizens, as well as foreigners temporarily living in or visiting the city.

The proposed legislation was so sweeping that democratic activists, as well as businesspeople who had fallen out with mainland partners, feared they might be legally extradited to China to stand trial under its party-controlled legal system. Businesses also worried that their assets might be confiscated.

Prior to the suspension of the extradition amendment, American Chamber of Commerce president Tara Joseph warned that it would be a blow to Hong Kong’s reputation as a business hub. Photo: May Tse