Beijing Aggression !

The thirty year anniversary of the democracy massacre in Tiananmen Square went unrecognised in mainland China but was a very big event in Hong Kong.  The " one country, two systems " approach which was the basis for the 1997 return of Hong Kong to China is now being eroded as a new mood of aggression takes hold in Beijing.

The Hong Kong legislature is not voted into office by the people of Hong Kong. Beijing must first approve the candidates seeking election and consequently those holding office must show allegiance to their mainland masters.  This week more than a million people took to the streets to reject an ordinance that would allow people charged with crimes to be  removed from Hong Kong to face trial and imprisonment somewhere on the Chinese mainland.

That Tiananmen square suppression is a precise reason why Hong Kong citizens bitterly oppose this legislative move.  So complete has been the Beijing shutdown of access to any mention of that massacre that vast numbers of Chinese residents in mainland China are completely unaware that it happened.  It has been expunged from the history books and even comments made by a Chinese General at the Shangri-La conference in Singapore will be deleted from news broadcasts in mainland China.  China turned tanks and guns on its own people demanding democracy and has installed a veil of secrecy over that crime by pretending it didn't happen.

Hong Kong people fear that if this legislation becomes law the accused will simply disappear without trace.   There will be no mention of either trial or verdict on the Hong Kong record and the secret police will have easy access to remove leaders who voice any form of opposition to rule by Beijing.  Even the limited free speech enjoyed by the " Yellow Umbrella " movement will be curtailed and its leaders deported.

This legislation simply codifies into law what has been practised illegally for a long time.  Booksellers in Hong Kong who have retailed titles suppressed by  Beijing have tended to " disappear " and later reappear somewhere in mainland China proffering an apology for their anti social activities. Those that fail to reappear are presumed to have refused to recant and will serve time indefinitely in a remote Chinese prison.

There is fear that this law will be used to control both the thoughts and the activities of Chinese students studying abroad and members of the Han dynasty who are permanent residents in other countries.   Family members living in Hong Kong will be the pawns used to control the measures ordered by Beijing.  Reported visits by the secret police to Chinese residents will ensure Chinese living outside China obey the edicts of the Communist party.

Unfortunately, that million person march will achieve nothing.  This legislation will be pushed through despite protests and it is quite clear that the Communist government is completely ruthless in ensuring its own survival.  Thirty years ago the PLA obeyed orders when it turned its guns on its own people and it will do it again if so ordered.

It seems that China now feels it has the military might to do what it pleases with external territories such as Hong Kong - and Taiwan.  It is only a matter of time before Taiwan is forcefully returned  to mainland control.