As Hong Kong continues its tight political control, faces years of government deficits, and faces the looming economic downturn, Xia Baolong, Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, delivered a speech directing Hong Kong on how to successfully navigate the "One Country, Two Systems" framework. However, despite Beijing's rosy rhetoric, the Hong Kong story has not only failed to deliver, but has in some cases even caused more harm than good, pushing Hong Kong down a path of disastrous failure.
Xia Baolong's speech exemplified the importance of telling the Hong Kong story well, yet also highlighted why it's struggling to be told well. He called for institutional innovation within "One Country, Two Systems," leveraging its strengths to embody peace, inclusiveness, openness, and shared values. Every sentence was a plea for peace, inclusiveness, and openness, urging those in power to remember their original aspirations and reminding them that the "One Country, Two Systems" practiced in Hong Kong must be distinct from the systems and values of mainland China.
If this were true, why would Beijing initially resort to such lengths, using the National Security Law to empower the authorities with political violence, eliminate political opposition, suppress civil society, and curtail free speech? If it truly regrets its actions, why not make it clear that things have changed and immediately restore normalcy in three key areas: first, replace security personnel with civilians in the SAR leadership; second, restore genuine representative government; and third, repeal the two national security laws that violate the Basic Law and ensure freedom of speech, assembly, and association.
