The Hong Kong Connection

On September 26, 1984, Britain and the People’s Republic of China jointly announced that in 1997 Hong Kong would be turned over to Peking. For fifty years after that, Hong Kong, although under Communist rule, might retain its capitalist structure; Peking called this innovation one country, two systems. Hong Kong, Deng Xiaoping told the world with some fanfare, would serve as a “blueprint for the inevitable reunification with Taiwan.” For Taipei, “blueprint” has always had a favorable connotation, in the context of the country’s rapid growth; but it sees Deng’s blueprint as simply a threat of takeover.

Another word being used in connection with 1997 is “deadline.” “In Chinese,” says Tsao Boh-yi, “that translates as end of life.” He sketches Chinese characters in the air. “End of a life for Hong Kong, hmm?” Mr. Tsao, deputy director of the Institute of International Relations, a Taipei think-tank, is regarded as the most knowledgeable man in Taiwan on the subject of the Mainland.

MM

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Mary McSherry

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On September 26, 1984, Britain and the People’s Republic of China jointly announced that in 1997 Hong Kong would be turned over to Peking. For fifty years after that, Hong Kong, although under Communist rule, might retain its capitalist structure; Peking called this innovation one country, two systems. Hong Kong, Deng Xiaoping told the world with some fanfare, would serve as a “blueprint for the inevitable reunification with Taiwan.” For Taipei, “blueprint” has always had a favorable connotation, in the context of the country’s rapid growth; but it sees Deng’s blueprint as simply a threat of takeover.

Another word being used in connection with 1997 is “deadline.” “In Chinese,” says Tsao Boh-yi, “that translates as end of life.” He sketches Chinese characters in the air. “End of a life for Hong Kong, hmm?” Mr. Tsao, deputy director of the Institute of International Relations, a Taipei think-tank, is regarded as the most knowledgeable man in Taiwan on the subject of the Mainland.