My formative years saw David Hasselhoff singing “Looking for Freedom” atop the Berlin Wall (1989) and Scorpions singing “Winds of Change” (1991) as the Soviet Union prepared to fall.
It was an optimistic time filled with hope for the future of people around the world who would be able to write their own destinies as they saw fit, and a time when it seemed the U.S. itself might even be inspired by it.
Frank Fukuyama wrote about “The End of History” first as an article (1989) and then a book (1992) speculating that we had reached a point of victory for humanity where liberal democracy had triumphed for good.
1989 wasn’t entirely triumphant. It’s been 30 years since ‘Tank Man’ stood athwart the People’s Liberation Army of China, in what seemed like an historical moment for that nation. We’ve seen much economic liberalization yet personal liberty has remained restricted.
Looking back the hopefulness of this era seems so, and I feel so, naive. In both security policy and economics we’ve forgotten which direction traffic flowed over the Berlin Wall, and indeed we’re seeking to build new walls. We used to talk about the ‘peace dividend’ but militaries are larger than ever. Trade which has brought so much wealth to the world, and the world’s least advantaged, is derided as a destructive force. How is it that we came so far, yet have forgotten so much?
Maybe that’s why I find the protesters in Hong Kong so inspiring. I’ve been advising against travel there as a tourist since before protests made their way to the airport. That doesn’t mean I turn my back on their cause.
Hong Kong and Kowloon were ceded in perpetuity in the 19th century to Great Britain, and the New Territories were ceded until 1997 just before the turn of the century. In 1984 the U.K. and China agreed that the entire area would revert to mainland China in 1997, but Hong Kong’s market-oriented institutions would remain in place for 50 years – through 2047.
Now, 22 years in, China treats Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region. There’s passport control between Hong Kong and the mainland. But Beijing exercises increasing amounts of control.
Hong Kong has faced massive and escalating protests over mainland China’s control. The proximate cause was proposed legislation that would allow Hong Kong residents to be extradited to mainland China at the request of Beijing, however protests have expanded to seek greater freedom and less intervention from mainland China.
No one knows for sure what happened to tank man. The quarter of the entire Hong Kong population that’s turned out in protests is well aware of what can happen to anyone defying the Chinese state.
And while they talk about ‘free elections’ what they don’t seek to be merely one vote in support of Beijing, they want freedom.
Tell me you can watch this without tearing up.
More than thousand HKers sing Les Miserables' 'Do you hear the people sing?' at HK international airport with their calls for free election and democracy. Here is the Ground Zero in the war against authoritarian rule. That's the reason for us never surrender. pic.twitter.com/1MkTp4BkVg
— Joshua Wong 黃之鋒 (@joshuawongcf) August 10, 2019
“Do You hear the people sing,” by the way, is banned in China.
Myself I can’t look at the images from the airport, and elsewhere, without crying. This may be the most ‘Hong Kong-ish’ photo ever:
【Sorry for inconvenience. HK is sick.】
1. We would like to sincerely apologize for all inconvenience caused by the peaceful demonstration at the HK International Airport. pic.twitter.com/jduMrjBh4I
— Joshua Wong 黃之鋒 (@joshuawongcf) August 14, 2019
Chinese troops, meanwhile, mass near Hong Kong.
We can confirm the presence of a large number of Chinese paramilitary troops stationed at a sports complex in Shenzhen, just miles from the border with Hong Kong. Some seen here carrying shields and helmets. An officer wouldn’t tell us why they were there and forced us to leave. pic.twitter.com/cUzRLdiqb5
— Matt Rivers (@MattRiversCNN) August 14, 2019
The official U.S. position is “it’s none of our business” – such a departure from U.S. support for the Solidarity movement in Poland.
Wilbur Ross to CNBC on Hong Kong: "The question of it is what role is there for the U.S. in that manner? This is an internal matter."
— Eliana Johnson (@elianayjohnson) August 14, 2019
It’s not clear what the U.S. can do, or any of us can beyond paying attention, outside intervention could just as easily play into Chinese hands dismissing and minimizing the moment as some sort of external plot, delegitimizing the grassroots nature of the protests.
We may not be able to do very much, but we have our sympathy to offer and we can be inspired by what people will risk for freedom and not be so cavalier about giving away our own.
Boycott the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
The United States and Great Britain should vocally call for the obvious solution: Beijing should announce that Hong Kong can become an independent country,
First of all, THANK YOU, Gary. I am glad that you share this post.
I am not from HK but from South Korea. In our history, South Korean had similar protest on May 18th, 1980. (Gwangju Uprising) They fought for freedom and dictatorship; and a lot of people could not see sunshine anymore.
Yes, Freedom is not Free. But time is changed; Media is not just on radio or TV, but there are many “ordinary” people could watch and share over the Internet. If more people keep eyes on it, Chinese government cannot repeat what they did at Tiananmen Square 30 years ago.
I am not a person who against Chinese government. But I am an ordinary man, who hopes that all people should have freedom and equality. And I also wish all people should not see their blood because of wishing their freedom.
I hope that nobody cries, nobody get hurt and no one dies from this protest. I pray for HK people and their freedom.
Once again, thank you. I will keep eyes on this protest and I hope more people do too.
“In 1984 the U.K. and China agreed that the entire area would revert to mainland China in 1997.”
So what’s the problem?
Im a fairly conservative white guy and my other half is from Taiwan so I am by no means pro China. I feel bothered, ticked off even, when I see a PRC flag flying in Hong Kong or Macau. I understand the very legitimate fears of the people in Hong Kong. However, many of the protesters have gone too far. There is no reason to block passengers, attack police officers, and commit other violent acts such as knocking a Mainlander unconscious because they suspected he might be a spy pretending to be a reporter, then prevent help from coming before finally throwing stuff at him as he was being moved away on a stretcher. I don’t care if Chairman Mao had come back to life and shown up at HKG disguised as a reporter – there is no excuse for that mayhem. Hats off to the HK PD for being able to use such restraint. I stand for Hong Kong but I can’t support the subset of protesters who are committing violence and causing chaos just like I won’t support those in the US who at times use protests as a reason to unleash chaos, vandalize, commit acts of violence, and loot.
@Richard: The facts have changed.
The people of Hong Kong don’t want to be serfs of the Beijing regime. They want to be free, and the way to achieve that is independence.
Wow, lots of comments suddenly gone. Learning from your Chinese overlords very well, aren’t you Gary? HK ppl should get used to it.
@L3 What if a state, say California or Texas, tried to seek “independence” from the United States of America? How should we expect the federal government respond? And should other countries get involved in how the U.S. decides to handle it?
@Richard: If California wants to leave we should help them pack their bags.
Texas, The Republic of Texas, has such a recision provision in its constitution. If the Democrats choose a Venezuelan nominee (e.g. Bernie Maduro, Elizabeth Maduro), then Texas should invoke the provision.
Note the way that the flow of people is going. From CA to TX.
If other countries want to support freedom — more power to them!
@L3 why are the protesters afraid of bullets? Independence cause lives. Fight to the end or find a job. Hong Kong people only love money. I am sure there is financial support behind this and was caught. If these useless young people could find a better job, they will leave in no time. They just envy other people are rich and want to block these people’s normal life. It is obvious now, isn’t it? There is no excuse for violence. The police have the right of force to keep the law.
@KK: We will put you down as a candidate for ‘The Manchurian Candidate.’
(Then, even you, will have a job!)
@L3 The point is whether it’s California or Texas, a blue state or a red state, we wouldn’t expect the federal government to let any state “pack their bags” and cede from the USA. HK is effectively a “state” of China.
The U.S. would likely unilaterally intervene if China decided to send PLA troops across the borders to force the Hong Kongers to “obey”
The people of Hong Kong did not vote to leave the U.K. They deserve to make their own decisions without interference from outsiders, if a legitimate referendum can be held.
At least the USA will vote next year to keep or reject the existing wannabe dictator for another four years.
@L3 Comment showed your violence. Show me the proof that photos of handing out the money are fake. Show me the proof of independence without causing lives. If US and Britain want to pick a friend between China and HK, which one will they pick? Anyway, go on protesting like this. I can assure you more and more people will be annoyed by the protesters. We will see. Thanks for finding me a new job. I have the right to choose if I accept it or not.
@Juan Then the protesters should beg Elizabeth to keep them in 1984. Everything is an excuse. The protesters just want money.
@Richard: We absolutely would. They entered the Union with just such a right of recision. Explicit in TX case, clearly membership only rests on consent in all the other states.
@KK: Actually, your current position as “Chief Apologist For The Illegitimate Beijing Regime That Murdered Thousands in Tiananmen Square” appears to be keeping you busy already.
@L3 In Texas v. White in 1869, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that states cannot secede.
Don’t know Chinese law, but we do know HK was “returned” to China in 1997 as agreed upon between China/UK. “Returned” meaning that HK was formerly a part of China, was temporarily under UK rule, and is now under China again.
If HK wants to seek independence/secede/seek whatever it is they want from China, (1) China should handle it, (2) it’s none of our business.
@L3 This is typical unreasonable young people. Argue with facts and proof. Tagging someone with no proof is just meaningless with no help to anything. Do you really know what happened in 1989? I can tell you that the protesters drove normal riders off the bus and then burnt the bus with fire. The western media only reported what they wanted at that time. I am not sure if they just neglected what happened overall no purpose. BTW, Puerto Rico voted to be part of the US. Did US accept them?
@Richard: Stale (and wrong) decision. The issue was actually settled by war and established that war is how it is likely to be settled in the future. So it is an open issue. The Federal government and the seceding states would likely settle it peacefully because the consequences of war would be so horrific. Then, things would go on much as before (free movement of goods and people, etc. with the direction being CA->TX) but the states would have their own sovereign government.
Not so in China where the illegitimate Beijing regime is likely to use tanks to ‘crush’ courageous Hong Kong freedom fighters. Their freedom is our business.
@KK: Why can’t you find any references to Tiananmen Square on Baidu in the PRC? Is it because the democracy protesters took someone’s seat on the bus? Or caused a tank to divert round them? As the glove puppet of the illegitimate Beijing regime I am sure you know.
Also, your last reply took far too long to arrive. I am going to have President Xi Jinping deduct three, no FOUR, social credits from you! That means no foreign vacation for you for ten years.
@L3 I’m not on vacation in a foreign country anyway. We can see if violence itself will lead to inpendence in HK. I can assure you we will see the result when we are still alive. I disagree with violence, and I support HK police to keep the law in face of law violation.
@KK: “and I support HK police to keep the law in face of law violation”. Of course you do, you were told to. Even if they are the instigators of violence, and they employ Triad members to do their dirty work. Nothing will produce an original, independent thought from you, because you are Beijing’s ‘yes man’.
BTW: What do you think about the fact that over 1 million Uighur Muslims are being held in detention centers in the far western province of Xinjiang, China?
@KK: Here’s a movie about the work of your technological pride and joy, Huawei, and their surveillance of Ugandan opposition politicians. Enjoy:
https://www.wsj.com/video/wsj-investigation-huawei-staff-help-governments-to-spy-on-people/0CE986A8-9975-4CB6-BB9C-031A24540E93.html
@L3 Good thought. Your independent thought can make HK independent. I am just telling you the truth. No death, no independence. You never prove I am wrong. Do you think HK can be the first one to secede peacefully, if there is no previous example? Face the fact. If you think I am biased, give me an example and focus on HK matters. Other thing are irrelevant to HK protesters’ violence. Keep on the violence and we will see the result. Does Xinjing has anything to do with the protesters’ violence?
Gary, I share your dejection as I watch what’s happening in HK. It’s painful and disheartening.
To the commenters above in the thread: As Gary said, formal U.S. (or U.K.) intervention, and certainly use of force, is almost unthinkable. But these are people who look across their nearby border at the PRC and, having not yet been consumed and crushed by the totalitarianism they see there (a la Tiananmen in 1989), are desperately trying anything they can think of to forestall that outcome — with one objective being to try to gin up at least some moral support among the governments and populations of the free world’s nations in the hope of causing Xi and his regime to have second thoughts. And they’re getting virtually no such support, including from “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” So what’s the deal? As long as WE have OUR freedom, it’s just t.s. for the poor wretches elsewhere in the world?
Gary offers an excellent example of prouder days: less than 40 years ago, we/the United States of America provided strong and public moral and diplomatic support, and covert financial and other support, for Solidarity as it struggled to remove Poland and the Polish people from the grip of a Soviet puppet government. Americans can look back on what we did then with pride and a clean conscience. And that’s not the only place in the world where we supported aspiration for freedom and liberty. Is there some compelling reason I’m failing to see why our country would not offer similar support today for those struggling for freedom and other basic human rights — whether in HK or elsewhere? Or, regardless of the real support we provide (or fail to provide), that we wouldn’t at least be sympathetic to that struggle and those engaged in it?
If the United States of America were to slip perilously close to totalitarianism (and you’re not honestly and carefully watching current events if you believe that’s unthinkable), and those of us who valued preserving and expanding freedom here — perhaps including you? — were to engage in civil disobedience and protests, what would be your opinion of the nations and peoples of the still-free world who turned their backs on us? What would be your opinion of those who tut-tutted about our effort “reaching too far” and inconveniencing some people? Do you think the Minute Men, or the participants in the Boston Tea Party, reached too far, or unjustifiably inconvenienced people, 250 years ago?
We’re watching a human tragedy-in-the-making playing out in slow motion, and we can’t be/aren’t even sympathetic and can’t/don’t feel any of the pain? That’s pathetic.
Thanks, Gary, for raising this into your readers’ field of vision.
@ScottB Have you ever asked what the British think about Boston Tea Party? In the end, the party who win in the end rule it. The HK protesters’ violence to police and other people. If HK people do not like the violence of the police, why not vote to remove the right from the police and ask the judge to sentence the police to jail? Current protesters are just using the freedom as an excuse to earn the money or political benefit they cannot earn before.
@ScottB @Gary The HK people should accept their fate, and fact that @Richard has rightly pointed out “In 1984 the U.K. and China agreed that the entire area would revert to mainland China in 1997.” HK was part of China, but lost it in a war with now UK, and this reverting back was part of the agreement. A lot more rational people, who did not accept this, has already immigrated out of HK in the early 2000s. Now, these protesters, who grew up and accustomed to this temporary freedom don’t want to give it up–that’s the bottom line.
Your myopic, western lenses are not really helping.
@jyee1 Look at the guy with a mask holding a US flag to hit the man on the stretcher. Does the young man just want freedom? Not to mention the people who show the injured person’s passport to the public for photographs. This is the result to give freedom to persons who do not understand what freedom is. There is a clear border between law and freedom. I hope there is justice for all.
https://youtu.be/c5qYeIe55Ag
https://youtu.be/-FY5L8PViso
Why not posting videos like this? This is the other side of the fact.
I support the people of HK who know what it’s like to have freedom and are finally coming to the realization of what it will be like by 2047 if not sooner. At the same time, I do not want the US getting involved in anything anymore.
Just as India has quickly invalidated long-standing agreements it made to have Kashmir be part of India under special conditions agreed to by the involved parties, so too can China play the same game of invalidating long-standing agreements it made to have Hong Kong under special conditions. And given how much more powerful China (PRC) is than India, China will likely be able to get away with the revocation of autonomy benefits without as much fuss as China got from the Tianamen crackdown even if using as much or even more force. China has sent the signals already in how it responded to India’s revocation of Kashmir’s special status arrangement, and China will be doing in Hong Kong what India has been doing this month with Kashmir.
The era of powerful countries respecting their legal agreements granting people/regions rights for autonomous or semi-autonomous governing is seemingly dead.
Tibet is completely Chinese. and Hong Kong will go that way too. And even China’s democratic neighbors won’t make much of a fuss — save perhaps Taiwan — over a complete and comprehensive takeover of all governance of Hong Kong. It’s easy to kill democracy when you have a massive mob feeling jealous about “the other” — what happened with Kashmir in India is a prequel to what will happen with Hong Kong in China.
ScottB,
I fully agree. When governing by liberal democratic means gets squashed anywhere and takes place without substantial resistance — domestic and foreign — it
heightens the threat to the lovers of liberal democracy elsewhere too. This is why I am opposed to what China is trying to do with Hong Kong and with what India did in Kashmir this month.
History is showing that too many people are too easily seduced by fascism and that fascism can be popular and democratic and yet be an anathema to that which I value: liberal democratic republicanism.
Excellent Gary!
Thanks for this post.
My sympathies are with the protesters ( in contrast to the airport occupation in Bangkok a few years ago; that one was led by loony hiso elites seeking to restrict freedoms rather than win them); I’m not fussed if my travel plans through HK are disrupted; the cause is worthy of support.
@WR2 I have not deleted any comments, maybe you’re just not clicking to the second page of comments?
It’s not often that we have to click “previous comments” to see the earlier comments. But they are indeed there.
I too had some initial trouble seeing the earlier comments but pretty quickly I noticed the “previous comments” button and used it to find the older comments.
@L3 Why do you ignore Snowden?
@GUWonder If you compare the history of India to Kashmir and Hong Kong to China, you’ll know the difference. Some protesters are just seeking independence from land belong to China long ago. Do all people in HK vote to leave? A certain amount of young people are just taking the money and doing what they are told to do. Not to mention the independence vote of TX.
Well, I for one disagree with this story. The only reason anyone should have tears in their eyes is if they got hit with the teargas. An attack on the airport is not an attack on China or whatever regime the HK people want to subvert. This attack is on the people of the world that will now suffer greatly because of missed flights, lost business, personal harm and just the sheer madness of it all. If the HK people so want their freedom, then let them go to the border and fight or protest there. I have always loved HK and will continue to love it until china changes the access rules. But, any joy that I had for the HK people is lost. I am now spending way too much time and money trying to find a workaround for my scheduled travel through HKG and all I can think about is how stupid it was to attack the airport. The fellow standing in front of a tank will receive far more recognition and admiration that 100,000 people at the HK airport. NO, I won’t shed a tear. The UK destroyed so many places in the world long ago, this is just another example. If HK doesn’t want to have a viable airport, then I will be happy to let them have whatever they end up with. China should move in and reopen the airport and send these protestors somewhere that would make HK (even under a Chinese regime) seem like heaven.
Gary, thanks for the support.
You can help by NOT telling people to avoid Hong Kong.
I’m USA born but China citizen with Hong Kong passport now. While I detest the violence, I support the objectives of the protesters, which was to have the PRC fulfill its promises it made, upon which Hong Kong was returned to the PRC. Universal sufferage was promised for years ago, delayed when Beijing insisted on fake democracy (you could vote for any candidate you liked as long as it was one approved in advance by Beijing). The incompetent Chief Executive (mayor) has spent her time on Beijing friendly projects (a bridge few use, high speed trains that ceded sovereignty over part of the terminal to Chinese law, an unnecessary extradition proposal, etc.) while failing to make progress on the things that matter to most Hong Kongers (more affordable housing through building more public housing, more doctors for the public hospitals, ending the raiding of MPF funds by employers). Were the government willing to listen and act on what mattered to average citizens rather than Beijing or a few oligarchs, we would not be having the current mess.
Yes, some of the protesters (a very few) are violent, but less so than the triads (Mafia) that attacked protesters and average citizens nor the police who used tear gas in the MTR (subway).
Despite that, Hong Kong is safe, the demonstrations are localized and announced in advance. Except for the airport, they are also away from most tourist and business areas. Come visit (I’m sure hotel rates and airfares have plummeted), you be safe, visiting a great city and will be supporting the city economically.
@Wr2 & Kk The only good Commie is a dead commie.
Gary,
You are either blissfully unaware or just naive! I love Hong Kong and last visited in November. However, when the British gave Hong Kong back anyone with a brain would know they would eventually be absorbed as part of China under the same rules as anyone else (unless of course it was in China’s interest to keep the current system in place). There have been many changes in the past 22 years (just ask any native Hong Kong resident). As a little thing China is now requiring all announcements to also be in Mandarin (instead of English and Cantonese) and are requiring Mandarin (which of course is the official language of China) to be taught in place of Cantonese.
Many other changes have also taken place with respect to their government and the oversight (aka control) of the mainlanders. This will continue to happen over the next 28 years at which time Hong Kong will be under basically the same rules as Shanghai or any other large Chinese city.
With respect to the protesters, while it is fine to say they are standing up for the right thing, you also know that there are activists with ties to mainland China mixed in with them, creating disturbances and basically giving China an excuse to roll the tanks across the “border”. It will happen. Not sure what the world in general can or even should do. Hong Kong is legally part of China so this isn’t invading a separate country. Yes there was an agreement in place to keep much of Hong Kong the same for 50 years but China can use the current disturbances as a reason to impose martial law on their territory. Outside of sound bites not sure there is anything other countries can (or even should) do.
BTW there is an excellent story on CNBC that the problems in Hong Kong are basically economic and wealth disparity as opposed to strictly HK vs China. Property has gone up 300% since 2003 and control of the city is largely in the hands of business tycoons and wealthy landlords. Young people pretty much will never own property and, if they manage to do it, it will be someone like a 200-300 sq ft space (yep) that is pretty much a one room sleeping, living, eating arrangement. The lack of career and wage growth for the vast majority of citizens (as compared to the finance sector and business executives) makes any wage or economic disparity in the US look like nothing. Also, when I was there in November I was told all old people get 4000 HK$ a month (about $500 in one of the most expensive cities in the world) so you see 90 year old women working in the markets. Not only is there little growth for young people but little security, outside of care provided by their families, for older citizens.
A wonderful place and I greatly enjoyed it but many societal and economic issues. The protests that are going on now are messaged as HK vs China but they mask much deeper problems.
They are not seeking freedom. The western media keeps pushing that false narrative. They have five specific demands. Rest assured the moment beijing thinks that hong kong is pushing for some sort of independence there will be bodies in the street. The protesters aren’t stupid enough to make those kinds of demands, since its a clear red line that can not be crossed.
@ac – there’s definitely wealth disparity but that ain’t what the protests are about
@AC: I heard that report as well. He was delusional. His thesis cannot explain unrest at other times. Nor can it explain the coincidence of this unrest with the Beijing extradition proposal. Also, we don’t see legal relocation to the mainland, which higher living costs would engender.
This unrest is about freedom from the totalitarian system in the PRC and independence is the only long-term assurance of that.
RE: “the conservative states in America who want nothing to do with Washington or the liberal coastal cities”
HA! ROFLMAO at that whopper of a laugh riot!
Especially when the reality is that many of these ungratefulAF impoverished red states (even including “Moscow Mitch’s” very own Kentucky or [cough, cough] alleged Pedophile Roy Moore’s Alabama) are consistently ranked as among the worst USA states for important things like: per capita income (for this category, West Virginia, Mississippi & Arkansas are ranked 50th, 49th & 48th, respectively); education & literacy (for this category, Arkansas, West Virginia & Mississippi are ranked 50th, 49th & 48th, respectively); infant mortality (Mississippi, Alabama & Louisiana ranked 50th, 49th & 48th, respectively); and obesity (West Virginia, Mississippi & Oklahoma ranked 50th, 49th & 48th, respectively, for that) help themselves to VERY generous handouts from Washington that are only made possible from the hard work and taxes paid by the affluent liberal folks in the blue states’ coastal cities, that is, since the welfare cheats better known as the folks who live in red states TAKE FAR MORE from Washington than they send to Washington, while the affluent folk in liberal coastal cities in blue states like California, New York & Massachusetts that disproportionately contribute to our nation’s GDP get FAR LESS back from Washington than we send to Washington.
Oh, btw, that’s before taking into consideration the tens of billions of WELFARE FOR FARMERS spent this year to keep Don the Con’s base from turning on him after China stopped buying soybeans and other agricultural products for the (UN)stable genius’s trade-war that China is so NOT paying for!
Talk about shameless ignorance and hypocrisy – NOT to mention biting the hand that literally feeds ‘em!
Sheesh.
Is it the water these poor dears drink?
Or too much Faux News’ Kool-Aid?
I was stuck at HKG on 8/12 after all of the flights were cancelled. You could hear the chants loud and clear reverberating around the terminal from the arrivals hall. Pretty powerful. Also, I was pretty surprised at the positive mood of the travelers in the terminal.
One particularly touching moment in the Pier First Class lounge:
European Traveler: So I heard that all of the flights are cancelled.
Lounge Staff: Yes, I’m sorry sir. There is nothing we can do at the moment.
Traveler: That’s ok. We support you. Really. If that means we have to stay here for a day or two, that’s ok. This is more important, and we support you.