The Last Governor 5: Another Balls-Aching Week 1/7

BBC documentary (Final part of a five part series) about Chris Patten, the popular last Governor of Hong Kong before Hong Kong reverted back to Chinese rule, and his democratic reforms which were undone by China.

He was quite possibly the first and only leader Hong Kong ever had (with the possible exception of Sir Murray Maclehose) that put Hong Kong's interests above that of her colonial masters, be that China, Japan or Britain.

It also show the exceptionally shoddy, two-faced and dishonorable nature of Hong Kong's tycoons like Gordon Wu and Li Ka Shing. It shows how willing they were (and indeed still are) to send the Hong Kong people down the river for a few dollars and their shamefully sycophantic attitude towards Beijing (with a few precious exceptions such as Jimmy Lai and Simon Murray) despite having foreign passports and having prospered under British rule.

Since then the Hong Kong people have become more politically embolden, with 500,000 people marching in 2003 calling for full universal suffrage for the Chief Executive and the resignation of Patten's successor Tung Chee-Wah after a series of spectacular policy failures.

Today, Mr. Patten (who left Hong Kong with and %80 approval rating), is welcomed back to Hong Kong with great enthusiasm by the people whenever he returns to visit.

Category:

News & Politics

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• democratic
• democracy
• Chris
• Patten
• reform
• HKSAR
• free
• Basic
• law
• handover
• politics
• 香港
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[sgsgtr]

couldnt the british give indenpendce to hong kong instead of returing them back to china

[therepublicofHK]

Sadly not as the series explains.

[therepublicofHK]

Not at all, glad I could help. As for HK, well, in terms of identity, we weren't given much, so we're something of our own creation. I hope you enjoy your trip here one day.

[cjk91]

Thank you very much for your replies. If I want to know any more I know who to ask!

I really must go to Hong Kong one day. The people and the place seem so much more British in their ways than here. What a shame there aren't the passports to prove it.

[therepublicofHK]

3.) As for the DAB's recent victories, well, despite being very conservative, they took up popular livelihood issues (anti-poverty, education) to increase their appeal (usually the democrats domain), they are far better funded than the democrats, are bigger (people aren't afraid to join the DAB) hence could field more candidates, stoked nationalist sentiment and trumpeted their connections with Beijing as a means of getting things done. A sham, of course, but it worked

[therepublicofHK]

2.) So, were most people in favour of reunification? That depends when you ask. As the handover came closer, more people accepted that was their fate. Without a voice and an identity people simply hoped for the best. Ironically, after 2003, the HK identity became more pronounced than ever before, hopefully that will lead us to a better place

[therepublicofHK]

1.) Regarding reunification. Apathy ruled, with a majority of people born in HK in the 70s, HKs identity was not est. enough for HKers to identify themselves as such, a HK identity was never promoted since we always knew China would assert its claim over HK. Also there was China's threat of invasion. The HK people were never given a voice. So then, as now, most people keep quite and hope sycophancy will be rewarded. Sadly it won't, Chinese hegemony over HK is the most important thing to China

[cjk91]

Thank you! According to wikipedia, the democratic party supported reunification with China. That would explain some of the confused messages I got from Martin Lee during the series. Were most Hong Kong people in favour of reunification? Not that it's particularly relevant any more, of course. And why does the DABHK get so many votes?!

[therepublicofHK]

The fellow speaking at 5:30 was Martin Lee, widely considered the most prominent and respected pro-democratic lawmaker in Hong Kong. The woman speaking afterwards was Emily Lau, Wai Hing, a former reporter, she is also a highly prominent & respected pro-democratic lawmaker and heads the Frontier party. Both are banned in China

[cjk91]

Who was the chap talking at ~5.30? What party is he alligned to? And who is the LegCo woman talking just afterwards, and what party is she alligned to?

Thank you.