Yes the 6.5%.

Hong Kong was doing very well for China for more than 20Y without this interference in the 2nd system.
Finance , Technology companies prospered,Investment flowed, ( along with a freely convertible currency )contributed much to greater China prosperity and development.

Recent stubborn prodding with proposals for unpopular laws have led to the present state.

Then the doublespeak of the leadership to listen and consult, even that pretense has died.
Never mind the assurances of greater decision making power Hong Kongers were supposed to get under the agreement.

Recent Hong Kong council elections have shown clearly there was 'never' any silent majority in support of CCP proponents.
Though a vote almost completely powerless in the face of appointees in the legislature with the real power.

Silliness of it all is that without this continual pursuit of unpopular measures.
Mostly everyone would have just kept doing what Hong Kongers have always done, kept working hard and along with advancing themselves and in turn advancing China economy.

Its not an easy place to make a living unless you are very hard working, beyond the riches of the few.
Recycling and poverty.
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/apr/24/hong-kong-cardboard-grannies-elderly-box-collectors-recycling-poverty

Tiny living spaces and Coronavirus
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/25/asia/hong-kong-social-distancing-coronavirus-intl-hnk/index.html

Even Carrie Lambs Husband resisted to clap in time with the dear leader last year in Macau. 
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201912230024.html

Hmm he might want to watch his back.

Wiser heads had walked back these measures when proposed many years back, but now we have different leadership and style.
Bans on empty chairs , A.A. Milne here we come.

Part of me thinks the unpopular proposals were deliberately designed to provoke public disorder, to justify the draconian legislation that has just been passed.

Now you're thinking like a dictator!

Yep - and they've already made arrests.

They'll get a chance to "defend themselves", in secret trials held behind closed doors.

There's more to it than just "democracy" - this chart is IMO a reasonably good representation:

First they came for the books.....

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3091842/national-security-law-hong-libraries-pull-books-some

I wonder how long articles will disappear from Hong Kong News Sites like SCMP , South China Morning Post.

Certainly Apple Daily is probably living on borrowed time.

As an example of the over-reach such laws allow you only have to look at the treatment of Lawyers who defend clients in civil rights cases.
Yeh Right Jail Lawyers
https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2020/06/rights-lawyers-xu-zhiyong-formally-arrested-wang-quanzhang-beaten-during-prison-term-yu-wensheng-sentenced/

While we have extradition arrangements with China and Hong Kong .
Probably the good thing here is its relatively easy for anyone who might be caught up in these laws here to show there is little capability for a fair trial.
Given above and everything else.

Much more straight forward than Kim.Com affair , and he is still here.

ezbee:

 

First they came for the books.....

 

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3091842/national-security-law-hong-libraries-pull-books-some

 

I wonder how long articles will disappear from Hong Kong News Sites like SCMP , South China Morning Post.

 

Certainly Apple Daily is probably living on borrowed time.

 

As an example of the over-reach such laws allow you only have to look at the treatment of Lawyers who defend clients in civil rights cases.
Yeh Right Jail Lawyers
https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2020/06/rights-lawyers-xu-zhiyong-formally-arrested-wang-quanzhang-beaten-during-prison-term-yu-wensheng-sentenced/

 

While we have extradition arrangements with China and Hong Kong .
Probably the good thing here is its relatively easy for anyone who might be caught up in these laws here to show there is little capability for a fair trial.
Given above and everything else.

 

Much more straight forward than Kim.Com affair , and he is still here.

 

 

 

 

 

It won't be long.

I'm surprised they haven't caught on to SCMP. You'd think that it'll be next to go. May need another law change on freedom of press.

Wander4821: Best the world can do is offer sanctuary at this point, though the question is will Boris Johnson take responsibility for the UK's long-term obligations or try and shirk it off once large numbers of HKers arrive?

I will no longer buy from Alixexpress or the other Chinese online stores.

If and when we travel again we will no longer go through HK, glad we spent time there twice, but it is now off the list.

China has killed off their golden goose.

sir1963:

 

China has killed off their golden goose.

 

I doubt it.  They're playing the long game, they'll have already factored in likely kickback vs risk of losing control - and have made their intentions clear.  They're probably quite happy to lose some low skill / low cost production.  If we (NZ) use trade to try and influence their hegemony and human rights breaches, we'll be eaten alive.  If we want to take a moral position, then we shouldn't pick favourites.

Fred99:

 

sir1963:

 

China has killed off their golden goose.

 

 

I doubt it.  They're playing the long game, they'll have already factored in likely kickback vs risk of losing control - and have made their intentions clear.  They're probably quite happy to lose some low skill / low cost production.  If we (NZ) use trade to try and influence their hegemony and human rights breaches, we'll be eaten alive.  If we want to take a moral position, then we shouldn't pick favourites.

 

Morals have nothing to do with playing favourites.

Well at least mine aren't. Nor are my moral standards based on who is involved, they apply equally to everyone.

sir1963:

 

Morals have nothing to do with playing favourites.

 

They do in terms of global policy/diplomacy.  If it's not consistent then it's not going to work.  Leaders play the "whataboutism" game.

As far as what you personally choose to do, go for it - but it's not going to have much impact - if any at all.

Fred99:

 

sir1963:

 

Morals have nothing to do with playing favourites.

 

 

They do in terms of global policy/diplomacy.  If it's not consistent then it's not going to work.  Leaders play the "whataboutism" game.

 

As far as what you personally choose to do, go for it - but it's not going to have much impact - if any at all.

 

It will have a profound impact on my sense of doing what is right, moral, and honest.

And if enough people did the same, it would have a real impact.

sir1963:

 

Wander4821: Best the world can do is offer sanctuary at this point, though the question is will Boris Johnson take responsibility for the UK's long-term obligations or try and shirk it off once large numbers of HKers arrive?

 

I will no longer buy from Alixexpress or the other Chinese online stores.

 

If and when we travel again we will no longer go through HK, glad we spent time there twice, but it is now off the list.

 

China has killed off their golden goose.

 

Is this really any different from buying your TV or socks from an NZ store? Which are made in China?

Its funny I saw a post on Lijnked-in to boycott goods from China & they got reported and called a racist about a hundred times lol. Crazy stupid and not even remotely racist... but the Chinese Government has spread that narrative really well.

Fred99:

 

As far as what you personally choose to do, go for it - but it's not going to have much impact - if any at all.

 

Pick any worthy causes you like and at some stage in it's history, that sentiment applied.

The footage of Jinping on TV last week rolling past miles of military personnel and ordinance was eerily familiar.