Hong Kong’s governance fairs “OK” in UK report

Mark Pinkstone/Former Chief Information Officer of HK government

When the “Question of Hong Kong” was raised in the mid-‘70s, Chinese paramount leader Deng Xiaoping came up with the “one country-two systems” concept. The world scoffed at the idea. How could a rip-roaring capitalist regime survive in a communist country?

Forty-one years after the signing of the Joint Declaration (which became the blueprint for Hong Kong’s future) in 1984 between the UK and China, the British government has virtually said that China has kept it’s promise that Hong Kong’s way of life would continue after 1997 as it was beforehand. While not openly applauding Hong Kong’s governance, nor was it openly critical, except for national security issues, the report was fairly balanced.

The 37-page report, a requirement stipulated by the parliament for the UK Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to submit six monthly reports on Hong Kong, could find little fault with the governance of Hong Kong.

The report reflected views of dissident groups without comment and drew attention to the Court of Final Appeal cases in favor of the plaintiffs. This should be seen as proof of a fair and trust-worthy legal system in Hong Kong.

However, it noted that since March 2021, and following the imposition of the 2020 National Security Law (NSL), the UK has declared China to be in a state of ongoing non-compliance with the Sino British Joint Declaration. But added: “The judicial system in place prior to the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR continued to be maintained in general. The prosecuting authority in Hong Kong remained within the Department of Justice. The courts continued to exercise independent judicial power, decide cases in accordance with the laws of the Hong Kong SAR and refer to precedents in other common law jurisdictions.”

The report was bullish about Hong Kong’s finances, its economy and monetary system, noting the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World 2024 annual report rated Hong Kong as the freest economy out of 165 jurisdictions. It also recognized the positive aspects of Hong Kong’s shipping, civil aviation, education and trade.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy drew attention to the plight of 45 activists imprisoned for sedition, collusion with foreign governments, rioting and other national security charges. And that the trial of media mogul Jimmy Lai was “politically motivated”.

He also lamented on the arrest warrants by Hong Kong police on a number of individuals living in the UK. “The Prime Minister and I have met these individuals and heard about the wider chilling effect that transnational repression is having on the Hong Kong diaspora.” he said.

The issuance of international warrants for arrest are not uncommon. The UK National Criminal Agency (NCA) pleads: “We pursue wanted fugitives all around the world …” It is currently hunting 24 men wanted for various crimes in the UK, adding that there is a bounty out for a Russian national worth US$10 million (HK$78 million).

So, what is Lammy moaning about? He listens to people who have grievances, without checking the backgrounds of the individuals. He forgets Hong Kong was subjected to severe riots in 2019-20 when people were killed, the city was set alight, shops were ransacked and looted, people were threatened and living in fear, and mayhem was the order of the day. And while this was going on, political pundits were going around the world seeking sanctions against Hong Kong and drumming up support for Hong Kong’s independence. People and world leaders get jailed for that. Attempting to overthrow a government is a crime, not political persecution.

The Hong Kong SAR Government is naturally upset about the report saying it absolutely refutes the untruthful remarks, slanders and smears against various aspects of the report, which was compiled by the Hong Kong department in the FCO. Daily reports are submitted to the office by the UK Consulate General in Hong Kong.

Lammy and others in the west, often refer to the “Beijing-imposed” national security laws in Hong Kong as if it is something sinister. It is not! Beijing is the federal capital of Hong Kong, as is London in the UK, Washington in the US and Canberra in Australia. The NSL implementation was a natural reaction to a disastrous situation. Hong Kong was spinning out of control, spurred on by foreign forces, but contained by a very efficient and resourceful police force. Hong Kong needed a legal framework to deal with the dissidents.

Mark Pinkstone

** The blog article is the sole responsibility of the author and does not represent the position of our company. **

So, US President Donald Trump is going to ask China to release former media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, currently facing sedition and collusion charges in Hong Kong, during the trade negotiation talks in Switzerland this weekend, according to international news agency, Reuters.

There is little chance of that ever happening. In the whole scheme of world conflicts and international trade negotiations, the trial of a Hong Kong man on sedition charges pales into insignificance. Just a leaf in a tea cup. And even if it did come up during the hard talk negotiations, the Chinese side will simply ignore it.

British-based Reuters boasts a readership of more than one billion people a day and is used by some 750 television broadcasters covering 115 countries. Yes, it does have reach and is influential. But it is also biased, like most of the western media towards China and Hong Kong.

Indeed, the Reuters release was picked up by most of the world’s media.  Bloomberg quoted Trump from the release’s account of a radio interview: “I think talking about Jimmy Lai is a very good idea. We’ll put it down and we’ll put it as part of the negotiations.”

Trump was responding to a question put by Republican political commentator Hugh Hewitt on his Hughniverse podcast on May 7.

During the negotiations on Hong Kong’s future in the 1980s, Reuters moved its regional headquarters from Hong Kong to Singapore as it had no faith in Hong Kong’s future. It still doesn’t, even though Hong Kong has fought off adversaries and doomsday prophets with a shield of truth and perseverance. The story of Hong Kong’s triumphs and successes have been retold many times.

Reuters reports: “The trial of Lai – a long-standing critic of the Chinese Communist Party – has shone a spotlight on a sweeping crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong following China’s imposition of a national security law in Hong Kong in 2020.”

The writers, both Hong Kong residents, were in Hong Kong and witnessed the bloody riots that prevailed at the time, but chose to side with the dissidents and their reportage thereafter has been colored by their own emotions. Gone are the days of balanced, unbiased reporting, especially with such a reputable news organization.

But the story is continually fuelled by Lai’s son, Sebastien and his public relations team of barristers at Doughty Street Chambers in London.

On World Press Freedom Day last week, Fox News devoted a segment to Sebastien who noted that in 1995 Lai senior founded Apple Daily…which quickly “became a beacon for free speech.”  Every Hong Konger knows that Apple Daily was launched on a platform of sex, gossip and more sex. It was a sleaze newspaper, known in the west as the “yellow press.”  In its early days it had no political bias. It was not until he ran foul with the Beijing authorities over regulations concerning his Giordano store that his attitude changed towards Beijing and anything relating to authority.

Sebastien summed up his father as “an immigrant who never quite fit in.”

In this final plea, Sebastien sought the release of his father, even before a verdict has been reached in his trial, so that he “can leave Hong Kong and be with his family.”

Lai faces three charges: two counts of collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security and one count of conspiracy to publish a seditious publication.

Jimmy Lai wrapped up his testimony on March 6 after taking the witness stand for 52 days. The trial is set to hear closing arguments on August 14, which are expected to last eight days.

But again, the western press smeared the judiciary before the trial even began. The infamous BBC lauded: “Mr Lai cannot expect a fair trial in today’s Hong Kong…”

It quoted Doughty Street barrister Jonathan Price, a member of Lai’s so-called international legal team saying that the fundamental principle of the rule of law in Hong Kong has eroded and that “everybody knows there’s only going to be one result.”

Mr Price, his colleagues in Doughty Street Chambers and the BBC should be reminded that Hong Kong’s judiciary ranks No.23 out of the 142 jurisdictions in the authoritative World Justice Project last year and even higher ratings in World Economic Forum earlier findings.