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Hong Kong politics
OpinionComment
Mike Rowse
Mike Rowse

Opinion | Hong Kong election reform: missed chances to shape city’s future must not be repeated

  • The central government has lost patience and thrown out much of our political structure, a major setback for the democratisation of Hong Kong
  • Those who still wish to remain involved in civic affairs need more transparency and information from officials

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Police officers raise China’s and Hong Kong’s flags at a ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square on March 11. Photo: Reuters
Mike Rowse

The verdict is in and it does not make for pleasant reading – everyone is guilty. In the light of recent events, Beijing has spent several months studying Hong Kong’s political experiences during the past two decades from the perspectives of competence and loyalty to the country.

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The conclusion is devastating – the patriots are not competent and the competent are insufficiently patriotic. Is that assessment too harsh? A little unfair on a few, perhaps, but overall it is not an unreasonable conclusion.

How many times during the past 20 or so years have we ordinary Hongkongers – people who love the city with all our heart and are perfectly comfortable with China’s resumption of the exercise of sovereignty – gasped out loud at the opportunities missed?

Olive branches were scorned. Chances to demonstrate our support for the country and at the same time lock in safeguards for Hong Kong’s distinct and precious way of life all went to waste.

Why did negotiations on national security legislation break down in 2003? The Article 23 concern group made a lot of progress in securing amendments to the government’s first inadequate draft. There were some difficult areas remaining to be settled, but why did the talks stop, making the huge protest march inevitable?

06:04

‘We must recalibrate’: Hong Kong opposition considers next move after arrests and political changes

‘We must recalibrate’: Hong Kong opposition considers next move after arrests and political changes
Why was there no follow-up to the one pragmatic compromise on political reform in 2010? Why did the other progressive parties launch savage attacks on the Democratic Party, accusing its members of “selling out” because they sat down with the liaison office to hammer out a deal? That deterred everyone from future talks, but compromise is the very essence of politics.
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