The U.S. President, Donald Trump, announced retaliatory measures against China in the press conference held last Friday. In his 8-minute speech, he took no prisoners and pointed out every malice that Emperor Xi has done sharply. He declared that he will impose sanctions on both China and Hong Kong, which was considered as the declaration of the China-U.S. new cold war.

Trump mentioned the handover of Hong Kong in his speech. “More than two decades ago, on a rainy night in 1997, British soldiers lowered the Union Flag, and Chinese soldiers raised the Chinese flag in Hong Kong. The people of Hong Kong felt simultaneously proud of their Chinese heritage and their unique Hong Kong identity. The people of Hong Kong hoped that in the years and decades to come, China would increasingly come to resemble its most radiant and dynamic city. The rest of the world was electrified by a sense of optimism that Hong Kong was a glimpse into China’s future — not that Hong Kong would grow into a reflection of China’s past.” He summed up the journey of Hong Kong people in these two decades . Although the speech was not written by Trump presumably, it can be observed that someone in the White House grasped the situation and the public sentiments in Hong Kong way better than the CCP.

Government officials in an ivory tower, however, cared more about the accusation of “One Country, One System” and declared that it stigmatised and demonised the CCP. Trump was not framing this time, unlike before. It is widely acknowledged that the CCP and Hong Kong government violently repressed protests, turning Hong Kong into a puppet state. No matter how the CCP and Hong Kong officials quibbled, it is a hard fact that the CCP-enacted National Security Law of Hong Kong violates the Basic Law and the principle of “One Country, Two Systems”. They cannot fool the world.

So what on earth defines the “Two Systems”? Lee Chu-ming, who witnessed both the Sino-British negotiations and the current Hong Kong democracy movement, explained it precisely and concisely, “If Beijing has the right in policy-making and can enforce laws in Hong Kong, that is not ‘One Country, Two Systems’.” Once Beijing sends officers to Hong Kong to enforce the law, Hong Kong has no difference from mainland China, let alone saying “One Country, Two Systems”.

Candlelight Vigil for June 4 Massacre: the indicator of the “Two Systems”

In addition to this definition, there is another indicator. For the past 23 years, Hong Kong is the only place on Chinese soil where major mass commemorations are held for the June 4 Massacre. On June 4 every year, more than ten thousands of people gather at the Victoria Park, rain or shine, just to light candles in memory of the victims of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. People in Hong Kong can voice out openly and fearlessly our demands such as “Ending one-party dictatorship” and “Build a democratic China”, which are strongly prohibited in PRC. Incontestably, the Candlelight Vigil for June 4 Massacre in Hong Kong is another indicator of the “One Country, Two Systems”.

June 4 this year is radically different. Ip Kwok-him, a member of the National People’s Congress, stated that if the meeting aims at “ending one-party dictatorship”, it will be problematic under the new National Security Law because the CCP will take it as inciting subversion of state power. The Hong Kong government has officially banned and made illegal the event for the first time in 30 years, citing the health concerns amid the Wuhan Virus. When the candles are put out by totalitarianism forcefully, where can we find the “Two Systems”?

Tung Chee-Hwa, the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong, had persuaded Szeto Wah that the commemorations shall not be held. Wah refused to do so. Maybe he knew the subtle meanings of it to Hong Kong. Americans know that also. The United States Department of State will organise a Virtual Candlelight Vigil on that day to, first, pass down the truth, and second, to tell the CCP and Hong Kong government that breaking the promise of “One Country, Two Systems” is the truth which everybody knows.

(Lam Hoi, Journalist)

-----------------------------
Apple Daily’s all-new English Edition is now available on mobile app. To know more : https://bit.ly/2yMMfQE

Apple Daily mobile app latest version DOWNLOAD NOW