By Lam Pun Lee

The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) unexpectedly dropped a bombshell with the new National Security Law for Hong Kong triggering a new wave of mass migrations from the city. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to offer Hong Kong British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders additional rights and entitlements, offering all BNO holders a pathway to British residency. The CCP condemned this as a breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration and a violation of a promise. This contradicts the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s earlier pronouncement that the declaration was a historical document without any practical significance.

The Basic Law Preamble details that Hong Kong was occupied by Britain after the Opium War in 1840 but sovereignty of the city was returned to China with effect on July 1st, 1997. During these 157 years, Hong Kong became China’s gateway to the world. From the Late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China to the People's Republic of China (PRC), there has been a significant number of migrants from mainland China to Hong Kong, and many of them later moved to settle in Western democracies. According to the Hong Kong census, the number of Hongkongers born in mainland China have remained in the range of 30-40% since 1961.



Before the Handover in 1997, mainland Chinese immigrated to Hong Kong primarily to escape war and political struggles. Immediately following World War II, China fell into a civil war which led to a wave of refugees from mainland China to Hong Kong. The population in Hong Kong increased from 500,000 in 1945 to 2.2 million in 1950. After the founding of the PRC in 1949, many overseas Chinese returned to China to participate in the reform but were ironically persecuted in a series of political movements and suffered the great famine. During the 60s and 70s of the last century, another influx of mainland Chinese fled to Hong Kong either through legal or illegal channels. The tension up north during the decade-long Cultural Revolution had disastrous effects in Hong Kong as left-wingers instigated the 1967 riots which rocked the city. The resulting disturbances and social unrest prompted many wealthy businessmen to sell their assets at discount and leave the city. At that time, the British colonial government had set up a special branch specifically targeting left-wing activists who disrupted the social stability of Hong Kong.

The British Hong Kong government introduced the Touch Base Policy in November 1974 in an attempt to curb the flood of immigrants from mainland China. Illegal immigrants who managed to evade immigration security control in border areas and reach the urban areas were allowed to remain and legalize their stay in Hong Kong. During the six years that followed until October 1980 when the policy was abolished, there were about 500,000 successful illegal immigrants which would provide a sufficient labor force for Hong Kong’s future economy development. In 1982, the British Hong Kong and Chinese governments agreed on a one-way permits (OWP) scheme for migrants from mainland China, created to enable orderly family reunification, with a daily quota of 75 which was subsequently increased to 150 in 1995. However, after the 1997 handover, in addition to the OWP, mainland Chinese could also become Hongkongers through employment, investments, talents, professions and entrepreneurships.

A large number of Hongkongers had chosen to emigrate during the Sino-British negotiations in the early 80s and after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, also known as the June 4th Incident. I recently re-watched the July 1989 episode of Hong Kong Connection produced by RTHK titled "Hong Kong People in Agony.” The program explored how, after the June 4th massacre, a massive number of Hongkongers, who feared CCP’s sovereignty following the 1997 Handover, applied for immigration. The documentary showed the then members of the Executive Council (ExCo) and the Legislative Council (LegCo), including Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai and Maria Tam Wai-chu, requesting the British government to grant all Hongkongers the right of abode in the U.K.



In the program, a young Leung Chun-ying pointed out that the promises made by CCP had all failed hence it was not surprising that Hongkongers had lost faith. Today, as the undertakings of the Basic Law have also fallen through, we wonder whether the council members will fight on behalf of Hongkongers for the right of abode as did Rita Fan and Maria Tam.



More than 500,000 people emigrated overseas after experiencing the shock of the June 4th Incident. At the same time, the British agreed to grant a selected 50,000 households full British citizenship without having to fulfill the ordinary requirements. Many local dignitaries secured political insurance by applying for foreign residency and British residency. They were afraid of the Communist Party, therefore sworn allegiance to other countries. However, after 1997, they did not want to part with Hong Kong. While staying in Hong Kong, these dignitaries should promote the development of Hong Kong's political system and strive to maintain the principle of "one country, two systems,” which gives the city constitutional rights of high autonomy and freedom from CCP interference, as stipulated in the Basic Law. Unfortunately, these Hongkongers who hold foreign passports and have the right of abode for themselves or their families, may they be the Chief Executive, Convenor in the ExCo, President of the LegCo, or senior police officers, hinder reforms in Hong Kong’s political system as they enjoy free lunches to their own advantages at the opportunity cost of Hongkongers. The unfairness and injustice in the system have infuriated the younger generation who does not have similar political insurance. Ultimately, their rage erupted during the Occupy Central and Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill movements.



A large number of mainland Chinese escaped to Hong Kong since the Opening of China in 1949, then emigrated overseas or obtained foreign passports as a result of the 1967 Hong Kong riots and 1997 related issues. After the Handover, many wealthy and powerful mainland Chinese immigrated to Hong Kong with their capitals and resources, but in fear of the CCP and political struggles, they eventually moved on to western democracies. I truly hope the CCP will reflect why a significant number of rich and powerful Hongkongers and mainland Chinese alike have lost faith in the country and wish to settle in the West. Despite their professed love for the country and support for the National Security Law, they have in essence betrayed their country. Could something be wrong with our own political system?

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