Showing posts with label Britain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Britain. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Political Storm in Hong Kong


The so-called Pro-Democracy Movement (PDM) in Hong Kong was rather a Pro-Destruction Movement (PDM).

Hong Kong had been a British Crown Colony for 156 years. It was a fact that during the whole 156 year British colonial rule, there was no democracy. The Governor was always a British official sent by Britain to govern the Chinese in Hong Kong. Senior officials were also hired by appointment. Government leaders were not elected. 

Since the handover back to Chinese rule in 1997, there was more democracy in Hong Kong under a One Country Two Systems model of governance.  From a British Crown Colony, it has become a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The separatists, backed by the anti-China forces led by the United States of America, tried to change the One Country Two Systems into Two Countries Two Systems. It goes without saying that the PRC would not allow this to happen. An independent Hong Kong? No way!   

The post of Chief Executive of Hong Kong after the handover in 1997 is an important political position, not a civil service administrator's position. Chief Executive Carrie Lam is not a mediocre leader. She has rich experience working as a senior civil servant, but in the early years of her tenure, she lacked political skills and experience. To be a political leader, one must not only have the ability to manage public affairs, but also have political wisdom. It is not easy to use power properly and timingly to deal with upper, lower, internal and external forces.

The black riots broke out in 2019 were not ordinary riots. They were political riots. It was a color revolution. It was indeed not easy to be the Chief Executive of Hong Kong in such an environment. Without the National Security Law, how could it be effective in stopping the violence and controlling the chaos? Hong Kong was almost destroyed by the 'Anti-China and mess-up-Hong Kong' forces. Indeed, it was the National Security Law that helped save the city.

Hong Kong's anti-China yellow-rioters and black-terror activists blindly worship Uncle Sam. They don't know what American-styled democracy really is. American-styled democracy is not one person one vote; it is rather one dollar 
one vote. It is a big game of money and power. Politicians do not work for the welfare of the whole country and the common people, but for their own self-interests. They serve the rich and powerful donors. They work for the Deep State of America. American Democracy is a Plutocracy. It is the Oligarch's game. 

Hong Kong is a very unique place. No matter from what angle one looks at it, no matter what one's ideal, fantasy or wishful thinking is for independence, it cannot change the reality of Hong Kong. What reality? It is the fact that Hong Kong is part of China, and the British colonial rule of Hong Kong has become history.

Fast Edi Thoughts and Comments   ***   Edi Lee for Peace.     

Friday, June 10, 2016

Brexit

I don't have the right to vote. I'm speaking as a Canadian only. To me, Canadian politics is so much simpler. I don't have deep knowledge of British politics, but I've done some studies about Brexit. 

This is my opinion: either you are in or you are out. It is not good that you are in, but not quite in, which is the current situation. If I am a British citizen, I'll vote yes, leave the EU. It may hurt a little in the short run, but in the long run, U.K. will get back its ' full ' sovereignty with no higher EU authority above. The U.K. Government will become ' more free ' to do good for the British people, and ' more free ' to work directly with other countries, without having to consult or be subject to the approval of a higher EU Authority. 

I'm not asking for a debate please. I'm only giving my opinion as an observer. I know there are also the Stay-No-Brexit people. I'm sure they have their good reasons why they want to stay. Peace ! 

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Sino-British Golden Age

Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting the U.K. China and the U.K. are entering a Golden Age of bilateral ties. I felt hopeful in watching and listening to President Xi addressing the British Parliament.These days, when it comes to economic growth, peace and development, which country would you think of first? It's got to be China.

Being a Canadian who grew up in Hong Kong, I am very interested in seeing a good China-U.K. relation. Being a Pacifist, I would like to see the world stop fighting and killing one another.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Xi Will See The Queen

Chinese President Xi Jinping will be visiting the U.K. for 5 days next week from October 19 (Mon), 2015 at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth The Second. Wonder what kind of food will be served at the state dinner in Buckingham Palace?! I have no idea of any famous British dish. Certainly, it won't be Fish and Chips.

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

July 1, 2015

July 1, 2015 is an important day of Canada and Hong Kong. It is Canada Day. It also marks the 18th anniversary of British handover of Hong Kong back to China. Canadians celebrate Canada Day today, but not all HongKongers celebrate the return of Hong Kong to Chinese rule.

A Keith Durant in Youtube gave his comments on the political situation in Hong Kong. He told the truth. Here are his comments: The funny thing is they have more democracy under China than they ever had as a British protectorate. Under Britain the governor was appointed in Britain with no input from the people of Hong Kong. Under China they are at least offered choices of those the government is willing to accept.

My thoughts:
There is no way that the Chinese Government will allow separatists or independence-leaning politicians to run for the chief executive office in Hong Kong. Candidates must be pre-screened and approved by a pro-Beijing Hong Kong committee made of 1200 members, which represents almost 40 different sectors or groups of people in Hong Kong society. The approved candidates or finalists will then run for the office, and every adult HongKonger will be given a vote to select their leader.

This is the situation: since the handover on July1, 1997, Hong Kong has become a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. It has a high level of autonomy, but it is not a separate country. To become the chief executive of Hong Kong, you must be pro-China, not anti-China.

Hong Kong already has much democracy and freedom. In terms of economic freedom, it is on the very top in the whole world. The rejection of this new election and voting system appears to be a small victory of the pro-American and pro-Western styled democracy politicians and people. It is a setback of Chinese styled democratic reform in Hong Kong.

It is rather stupid and irrational that some anti-China HongKongers still wave the British flag, complaining that there is no free election in Hong Kong. Was there any free election when Hong Kong was under British rule? No, None. Would these anti-China HongKongers be happy to re-become British 'subjects' or 'second class citizens' under British colonial rule?

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

British Royal Visit and Chinese Politics

Prince William is visiting the Peoples Republic of China. He made a speech in English (of course) and said a few words in Mandarin. I have watched a few news videos about his royal visit to China, and here are my random thoughts and comments:  

It is very wise that the Royal itinerary does not include a stop-over in Hong Kong. China did not interfere with Scotland's effort to separate from the United Kingdom, so U.K. should be wise enough not to interfere with the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong (some people think U.S.A. did). Many Westerners do not know Chinese history, culture and politics well. Hong Kong already has a lot of freedom, especially regarding economic freedom, it is number one, on the top, in the whole world. The Umbrella Movement lasted for months, not days, and largely ended with no bloodshed. Even the so-called democratic (actually plutocratic) U.S.A. would not tolerate a peaceful demonstration of setting-camp and occupation for that long. 

The Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong, some call it Pro-Democracy Movement, is not really about democracy, which already exists in H.K., but rather about candidate eligibility, and the legal form, extent and process of democratic elections. There is no way that the Chinese Government will give up its sovereignty and allow Hong Kong to separate and become an independent country. Anyway, Hong Kong cannot exist as an independent country, even if Beijing allows it. It is like a baby whining to separate from his mother. 

Western Media, especially the conservative U.S. Media, are very biased against a united and rising China, and would support and promote Tibet, for example, to separate. Again many Westerners have so little knowledge and accurate information about Chinese history, culture and politics that they are unwisely brainwashed to blindly take side with Uncle Sam. China has more than 50 minorities, and Tibetans are one of them. The Chinese that the Westerners know are the Han Majority Chinese. Even among the Han Chinese, they are not all the same. 

Anyway, this visit of Prince William to China is a Royal visit very well-done. Chinese people do not have an inferiority complex.They have a superior but humble mentality. If you said to an American, "hey you are very good", the answer would be "thank you." If you said to a Chinese,"hey you are very good", the response would be "Not at all. You only flatter me. I still need to improve." Chinese people like to make friends (not enemies) and money (not war). In the news videos that I watched, President Xi Jingping looked happy to receive an invitation from Queen Elizabeth to visit the U.K

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Hong Kong Protest

It's amazing that the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong so far has been largely non-violent. If this kind of protest and stand-off happened in the U.S., or in Beijing, the police would have already opened fire and shot the students dead. I still hope peace and calm will prevail in H.K., but I am a bit worried.

Young people in Hong Kong are not stupid, but they need to learn more about history, economics and the geopolitics where they live, and in the world, and be aware of some hidden or not-too-obvious dark forces in the U.S. and other countries, which keep creating troubles and conflicts everywhere, to screw up other countries for selfish financial and power gains. There are people who do not want to see a united and rising China.

American democracy has become a plutocracy. It is free and democratic, yes, but it has become more a plutocracy than a democracy for the good of the common people. The elites work for the rich and powerful, not for the common people. Is that what you want ?

Dear Hong Kong people: Britain was your old master and your past. China is your distant past and future, not your enemy. You don't even pay federal taxes to Beijing, while Americans have to pay taxes to Uncle Sam wherever they live. Think about it.

Beijing, H.K. Government, pro-China and pro-democracy people, please be rational and don't screw it all up. Don't shoot your own foot. Good luck !!!

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

July the First

Today is Canada Day, also the 17th anniversary of Britain's hand-over of Hong Kong back to Chinese rule. There has been some political turmoil in Hong Kong, where the Hongkongers demand their UK-China promised autonomy and democracy, while the Chinese Government strongly asserts its authority and sovereignty over the previous British colony. I hope the problems will be resolved peacefully. No violence on either side please !!!

Sunday, November 24, 2013

World and Empire

The 19th century belongs to the British Empire. The 20th century belongs to USA America. The 21st century belongs to China. However, China is not perfect. It has many problems yet to be solved. The difference is that China is not really a new world power. It is only re-claiming its past glory. I am a Cosmopolitan and Pacifist. Healthy competition between countries is OK, but co-operation is a must. I believe in love and peace, not war and destruction. One humanity, one world and one earth as home for all peoples ! (Imagine there's no country, it isn't hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion, too. Imagine all the people living life in peace ... John Lennon).

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee died at the young age of 32. Today is the 40th anniversary of his death. Most people know he is the greatest martial artist of our time, but there are things that they may not know: Bruce was a child star in Hong Kong. Quentin Tarantino probably knows, as he was a fanatic of old Chinese movies, before he became a famous director in Hollywood. Besides being a child star, Bruce was a dancing contest champion in Hong Kong. He was also a street fighter there. His father wanted to make him stay out of trouble by sending him back to America where he was born.  

Bruce Lee is great, not only because of his superb martial arts and Chinese kung fu, but also because of his philosophy of life. He rejected the idea that Chinese kung fu must be kept for the Chinese people only. He defeated everyone who dared to prevent him from teaching Chinese kung fu to the Westerners. My opinion is that all the great people in this world belong to the whole humanity, not just to their own race, culture or country. My view is a cosmopolitan view, an all-in-the-family view, with one humanity, one world, one Planet Earth.

Aside from philosophy and opinion, these are some facts that many Bruce Lee fans do not know. Bruce is not only Chinese, but also American and partly German. How so? Bruce was born in San Francisco, so he is an American. His father Lee Hoi-Chuen was an actor in Chinese opera. His mother Grace Ho was a Eurasian of German and Chinese ancestry. My dear American and German friends, you can rightfully claim that Bruce Lee is partly yours. By the way, Bruce, like myself, grew up in British Hong Kong, which went back to Chinese rule in 1997. Dear Brits, yes, you can also claim a part of Bruce Lee. My dear Chinese friends, what the heck, let's be generous and share the great Bruce Lee with the whole world. We can't say no anyway. They have already taken a great portion of him. Rest in Peace, Bruce !