Tuesday, August 27, 2019
By Huang Qinguo,
Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Recently, the situation in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China has caught the attention of Bahamian media. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify the fact, so as to assist Bahamian people in understanding the situation in Hong Kong comprehensively and objectively.
Several months ago, the SAR. government pushed the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation Amendment Bill in order to fill a legislative loophole by allowing Hong Kong to cooperate on a case-by-case basis with mainland China and other jurisdictions with which Hong Kong has no formal extradition treaty.
This necessary and reasonable legislative measure, however, was intentionally politicised. Some extremists, taking the amendments as an excuse, spread rumours which resulted in large-scale demonstrations.
Even after the withdrawal of the above-mentioned Amendment Bill by the SAR government in June, instead of ceasing the demonstration, some protesters went to the length of total violence. They rammed into the Legislative Council and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government, destroyed public facilities, defaced the Chinese national emblem and brutally attacked the police.
These acts have severely broken the rule of law, seriously affected public safety, social order, business environment and the international image of Hong Kong. They have seriously broken the principle and bottom line of "One Country, Two Systems".
In such a situation, some Western politicians have been making various Hong Kong-related accusations which are wanton, fact-distortion and inflammatory. They painted over violent crimes into "peaceful demonstrations", propped up violent and illegal activities, fuelled the deterioration and undermining of Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.
Since the return of Hong Kong to its motherland 22 years ago, the central government has faithfully implemented the principles of "One Country, Two Systems" and "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong".
Hong Kong has been prosperous and stable, ranking among the freest economies and most competitive regions in the world for consecutive years. Hong Kong also enjoys the reputation of the international community for its high degree of constitutionality, its superior business environment and strong competitiveness.
The practice of 22 years has proved "One Country, Two Systems" is not only the best institutional arrangement to solve the historical issues of Hong Kong but also the cornerstone to maintain its security, order, long-term prosperity and stability.
Hong Kong is a part of China and Hong Kong issues are China's internal affair. No foreign government, organisation or individual should interfere in any way.
The Central Government has reiterated many times its position on the current situation.
We firmly support the SAR government in the law-based governance, support the Hong Kong police in their strict law enforcement, support relevant departments of the SAR government and judicial organs in punishing the violent criminals in accordance with the law.
We support the people who love both our country and Hong Kong in their actions to defend the rule of law. The Chinese government will never allow any foreign forces to have a hand in Hong Kong affairs, neither will it allow them to mess up Hong Kong.
The rumours end with the wise and the justice is in the hearts of the people. The prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, the happy life of its seven million inhabitants are the best proof of the correctness of "One Country, Two Systems".
We believe Bahamian society could uphold an objective and fair position on the current situation in Hong Kong, recognise the truth, fully understand and support the stance and determination of the Chinese government to safeguard its national sovereignty and dignity and to maintain "One Country, Two Systems" and Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic says...
There is only one non-communist Republic of China - Taiwan.
Posted 27 August 2019, 9:36 p.m. Suggest removal
Porcupine says...
Sir, did I see the word freedom mentioned in your PR article here? I didn't.
And, I think the whole world can see that for the most part, the massive demonstrations were entirely peaceful.
Those causing the violence, who really were they? Demonstrators or Chinese operatives?
Is this not a legitimate question? Your words do not line up with what the world can see with their own eyes.
There are many in the world who see China as it is. People are people. Governments can be bent on power, complete authoritarian rule, or they can promote freedom. Many in the world believe that expressing yourself freely comes before a government's seemingly god-given right to rule it's people with an iron fist. Most people in The Bahamas believe this. Which is why the many strikes, demonstrations and vocal disagreements between the people and their government can go on here, but would be unthinkable in China, and would lead to arrests and jail time, if not disappearance of those "extremist" individuals, as you call them. No Mr. Qinguo, there are many differences in ways to govern. China's leadership chooses a way that much of the world disagrees with. Your article, if read carefully, highlights the lack of appreciation for the individual, and places all of the emphasis on order and obedience. Many of us were raised to value individual achievement, free speech and cooperation. Many of us do not accept being dictated to.
The objections to the bill you mention at the outset, the same bill which brought millions of people into the streets in protest were not misguided. They were reasoned responses to the fact that much of the world, especially those closest to Chinese matters, strongly believe that the law is stacked in favor of the ruling elites of China. For the benefit of maintaining power, not for justice and rule of law. If people believed that China truly followed the rule of law, and gave people a fair trial, there would have been little opposition to this bill.
They are legitimate fears based on an honest assessment of history.
Mr. Qinguo, now that we have heard from you, suspecting your individual statement was vetted and approved by the Chinese government, could we now hear from a handful of the millions of people who took to the streets in Hong Kong? People who felt so strongly about this "misunderstood" law, that they gave up going to work, and gave up anything else of importance they had to do, merely to voice their opinion and to show solidarity with their fellow thinking human beings over what they felt was, and is, a violation of their human rights.
Personally Mr. Qinguo, I tend to side with the millions who took to the streets. Obviously, when that many people, well educated, peaceful, and truly passionate, get together as one, it becomes very difficult to discredit them.
You have failed to do so yourself.
Posted 28 August 2019, 6:48 a.m. Suggest removal
notacausualobserver says...
Refreshing to see not everyone believes Red China, Thanks. Made my day.
Posted 29 August 2019, 2:42 p.m. Suggest removal
joeblow says...
China is one of the most oppressive, intrusive and subversive regimes in the world using Communism to keep its foot on the masses while using capitalism (an ideology that should be at odds with their brand of communism) to enrich the party's loyal and economically rape developing countries. Their capito-communist philosophy is just as hypocritical as their one country two systems gibberish!
Posted 28 August 2019, 12:58 p.m. Suggest removal
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