GoranZ wrote:BigBallinStalin wrote:GoranZ wrote:muy_thaiguy wrote:Not surprised Hong Kong is doing this. Up until recently, they had Western standards of freedom. Now, they're under Chinese rule, and look at Tienanmen Square. Be safe Hong Kong residents.
You mean Hong Kong was under 150 years concession of UK that "recently" ended... That "recently" was in 1997, 17 years ago
Hong Kong is not under Chinese rule... its essential part of China, and in China apply Chinese rules.
I think now China understands why straighten its ties with Russia will bring bigger stability for her.
You say that as if it's a good thing. Why is it reasonable for HK to increasingly resemble the Chinese model of government--when HK's model has produced one of the richest and more free places in the world?
Economically, both China and HK are doing quite good, and hardly which country in the world can compare to their economical success. So both systems create rich people. However demonstrations like the one happening now undermine economic growth in both systems. The conclusion that HK will become less democratic after 2017 is more or less a speculation... Even now HK(or most of the other "democratic" countries in the world) actually dont have democratic system. Only ballot paper with "none of above" in their list can create Democratic system, everything else is a farce(but this is different story).
Your claims are inaccurate if you compare HK's and PRC's GDPs, Freedom Index ranking, freedom of press ranking, etc.
According to the Polity IV rankings of democracy, HK is 'way up there' with the Western European countries and Uhmerica. China is not. There's a big difference. There's more to those democratic governments than a ballot box; otherwise, crummy democracies like Iran and Pakistan would be politically indistinguishable from Western democracies (if we applied your reasoning to the extreme).
So, back to your point: "its essential part of China, and in China apply Chinese rules." It doesn't make sense. It would've been more profitable for the PRC if they simply taxed HK and left them alone. The PRC's constant buggering with HK unsurprisingly results in larger protests.