dinance The fact that British rule over Hong Kong lasted until the end of the century and was not, as with other British colonies, terminated soon after the Second World War, is due to the ruling Communist Party of China being prepared to tolerate its continuation.
After 1949, economic developments in China were slow; in contrast, Hong Kong took a faster path of development. This was not however due to the superiority of British rule but a combination of many factors, one of which was the hard work put in by Hong Kong workers.
The end of British colonial rule and the removal of constraints should mean the people of Hong Kong having more self control of their lives.
However, such possibilities have been thwarted by the imposition of
Anti-democratic
The whole process of transition has been both undemocratic and anti-democratic. The Basic Law Drafting Committee was appointed by Beijing. It proposed laws in the interests of Beijing bureaucratic rule and corporate capitalists.
The Chief Executive and the Provisional Legisiature were not elected democratically. Some repressive parts of the Public Ordinance Bill have been restored to intimidate and restrict struggles by the people for their rights.
Now that the change--over has taken place, rule by a small minority of Beijing bureaucrats and corporate capitalists will usher in further repression of political freedoms and the social and economic rights of the people.
The new government has already demonstrated its reluctance to imactively take matters into their own hands rather than wait for benevolent changes from above. Both political and social issues are closely linked.
The fight for more spending on health, education, housing and social welfare in order to improve the quality of living cannot be separated Trom ine siruagles to satecuare the political and democratic rights of decision making, access to information, free association and political organization, and so on.
People's Congress We propose that the focus of the fight for political and economic rights should revolve around the demand for democratic election to a Hong Kong People's Congress. This would make major decisions relating to the self-rule of Hong Kong by the people.
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