Things have mostly gotten worse, not better, for this onetime beacon of freedom off the coast of mainland China.
What began as an opportunity for freedom and democracy to flourish in the shadow of communism has turned into an orchestrated effort by China to put Hong Kong under its heel.
I n May, five democracy advocates were arrested in Hong Kong under China’s draconian National Security Law, which supposedly aims to crack down on secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. The penalty? Up to life in prison. The democracy group, which includes a university professor and a 90-year-old Catholic bishop, were trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which provided legal aid to those partaking in Hong Kong’s June 12, 2019 pro-democracy protests. Their crime? Failing to register with the government.
Chinese authorities claim that this ruthless law has brought stability to the region after mass demonstrations in recent years, but many instead see it as a tool of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to suppress dissent and curb freedoms.
This episode is a sad reminder that as we approach the 25th anniversary of Britain’s Hong Kong handover to China — which took place on July 1, 1997 — things have mostly gotten worse, not better, for this onetime beacon of freedom off the coast of mainland China.
Twenty-five years ago, the United Kingdom transferred Hong Kong’s sovereignty back to the Chinese government. The British had commandeered the island following their victory over China in the First Opium War, vowing to return it and other acquired territories in 99 years. Within that near-century, Hong Kong had forged its own path, diverging from China’s journey to one-party Communist rule. With free assembly, free speech, and two-party elections, Hong Kong was paving the road toward becoming a democratic oasis.
Promising a continued laissez-faire approach upon Hong Kong’s handover, China agreed to rule from afar with a “one country, two systems” philosophy. To do this, in 1990 it created the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, which would allow Hong Kong to retain its own legal system, legislature, currency, and capitalist economic system until 2047. Hong Kong citizens were assured that they would continue to live in a free society, and that the island would continue to be a booming financial center with unfettered economic activity.
But that promise was short-lived. What began as an opportunity for freedom and democracy to flourish in the shadow of communism has turned into an orchestrated effort by China to put Hong Kong under its heel, resulting in a severe loss of democracy.
In fact, CCP relations toward Hong Kong have been a one-way street leading inexorably to more repression and fewer freedoms. This includes the time when the CCP allowed Hong Kong to select its own chief executive, but only from a list of pre-approved candidates permitted by Beijing, with two pro-independence members of the Legislative Council disqualified for refusing to pledge allegiance to China during their swearing-in ceremony; and more recently when China proposed an extradition bill, putting Hong Kong citizens and foreign nationals at risk by allowing those deemed suspects to be sent to the mainland for trial.
My organization, The Fund for American Studies (TFAS), has seen this loss of sovereignty up close. To further our mission of developing courageous leaders equipped to protect and advance the ideas of freedom, free markets, and the rule of law, TFAS established its Asian program in Hong Kong, which was then a model for those values. But after more than 15 years of educating many of the brightest future leaders from throughout Asia, TFAS made the difficult decision to leave in 2020, in large part because of the increasing concerns about the loss of freedom and self-government in Hong Kong.
It was no surprise, then, that China’s tightening grip ultimately resulted in the imposition of Hong Kong’s National Security Law. This legislation allows virtually anything to be considered a “threat” and prosecuted as a crime, including expressing pro-democracy sentiment or supporting free speech. And unfortunately, things continue to get worse. During Hong Kong’s election last December, more than 90 percent of the legislative seats went to pro-Beijing candidates. The results aren’t shocking when you consider that only 30 percent of Hong Kong’s 4.2 million registered voters showed up to the polls. It’s a clear indication that China’s tyrannical changes have discouraged Hongkongers from participating in an election that is neither democratic nor a true election.
But they — and we — cannot give up in the fight for democracy. It has been said before but bears repeating: A threat to democracy anywhere is a threat to democracy everywhere. As the leader in the global battle for freedom and self-government, the U.S. must continue fighting for those whose autonomy is under attack. Leading by this example, and offering a safe haven for Hong Kong citizens seeking asylum from such oppression, should be a role we proudly take on. In doing so, we will continue to illustrate the power of perseverance and help produce leaders who will eventually create a more free, independent, and just world — even if that takes another 25 years or longer.