Hong Kong-17 Years And Counting

         (Hong Kong From Peak. Photo: Y.O.)

                             by David Parmer

On a dark and rainy July 1, 1997 Hong Kong reverted to Chinese sovereignty  after 156 years of colonial rule. The rain fell, the People’s Liberation Army marched in and the British sailed away. And that was that.  In the lead up to the handover negotiated years before between Britain’s Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and Chinese leader Deng Xiao-ping anxiety about the future of the new Special Administrative Region was high. Many Hong Kongers headed overseas, or at least set up bases there. Destinations of choice included Canada, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

July 1, 1997 came and went, and life went on. Some things remained the same, for example the use of English in schools, the freedom of the press, the use of SAR passports, and the British style of driving on the left. Also some roads’ British names remained. Changes after 1997 included the method of electing Hong Kong’s Chief Officer, the use of the PRC and Hong Kong flags, and the use of currency without the Queen’s picture on it.

Life went on, and problems remain. Pollution, just as in the rest of China is a serious threat to health. In 2003 Mainland tourists were allowed to come to  Hong Kong on an individual traveller basis instead of only as members of a group. Mainland tourism has continued to mushroom, with 2013 numbers set at 40 million visitors.

The New York Times online reported that on May 27, 2014 Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying had proposed a 20% reduction in the number of Mainland tourists as one option to handle the flood of visitors. Predictably the business community was not enamored of his proposal. Other complaints against the Mainlanders include the use of health services, the buying of large quantities of baby formula and the driving up of property prices.

On the 16th anniversary of the Hong Kong handover in July 2013 a huge demonstration was held, with participants numbering any where from 60,000 to 400,000. In 2014 another demonstration is planned for June 20-22 by a group calling itself Occupy Central to hold what it says will be an “unofficial referendum.”

So after 17 years, life goes on in Hong Kong as it does it most other parts of the world-not without its pleasures, but not without its problems either.