Police officers prepare to disperse a protest against the extradition bill in Hong Kong on June 12. As the China-US economic cold war escalates, and rising regulatory hurdles make it harder for Chinese companies to raise capital in the US, Hong Kong will become immensely valuable to China as an offshore financial centre. Photo: DPA
Minxin Pei, SCMP: The US could make Hong Kong – and China – pay an economic price for the extradition bill
* The US-Hong Kong Policy Act has teeth to deter China from violating its commitment to ‘one country, two systems’ in Hong Kong. Beijing needs to remember Hong Kong’s value as a financial centre, especially as the trade war drags on
The likely passage of Hong Kong's controversial extradition law will irrevocably tarnish the city's rule of law and its attractiveness as an international commercial hub. Unless China’s leaders are prepared to accept these disastrous consequences, they should withdraw the bill before it is too late.
WASHINGTON, DC – The world has been riveted by the protests raging in Hong Kong against the city government’s proposed law to allow the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China. About one million people – roughly one-seventh of the former British colony’s population – took to the streets on June 9 to denounce the draft law, and another large protest on June 12 resulted in violent clashes between demonstrators and police.
Yet, despite the massive protests, the Chinese government is determined to get its way. Instead of withdrawing the proposed law, Hong Kong’s Beijing-controlled leaders have fast-tracked the bill and scheduled it for a vote in the city’s Legislative Council at the end of this month. Its adoption would be a calamity not only for Hong Kong, but also for China.
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WNU Editor: One of my golden rules is the following .... if it works don't fix it. In the case of China and Hong Kong, this relationship has been incredibly prosperous. Why China decided to upset the status quo right now and put this important Chinese financial hub at risk is beyond me. But we are now at the point where Chinese President Xi cannot back down, for backing down would mean losing face and a signal to his opponents that he is vulnerable. As a result of China's internal politics, I expect this extradition bill (or some form of it) to be passed in the future, and with it's passage greater scrutiny from the U.S. and others on the special status that they give Hong Kong. This is a lose-lose position for President Xi in every way, and a revelation that he and his closest advisers are capable of making incredibly short-sighted and stupid mistakes.
9 comments:
What do you expect from baby killing Commie nut jobs !
"violating its commitment to ‘one country, two systems’ in Hong Kong"
The extradition bill does appear to be an unwise move, particularly at this time. I imagine the "on country, two systems" agreement was a sore spot at the time and plans were made to drop that some time in the future. But when would timing for that ever be right? I have a Chinese friend who works over there most of the year and is due to come back for his vacation in a couple of weeks. It will be interesting to hear his comments if he gets time for a chat.
Andrew Jackson
Yes baby killers.
It was a pity that Trump didn't extradite Anwar al-Awlaki’s 8 year old daughter, Nawar from Yemen instead of having the brave seals kill that little girl.
They could/should have extradited her so that she could have been put on trial and imprisoned for the crime of being the daughter of the radical American citizen, Obama oredered executed without a trial as is suppossidly "guaranteed" by the "Constitution".
Nawar was also an American citizen by the way.
Does knowing your government kills its citizens without trial make you feel safe?
If I too was in Yemen and trying to slaughter countless numbers of innocent people, of course I would not feel safe knowing the Americans were after me.
Bob, I give you the prestigious Four Galaxies Award with Diamonds and Oak Leaves Cluster as illustrated below,
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as a result of your last sentence.
You have Chicom friends Bob ,interesting!
Emperor Xi is making mistakes because Trump is putting pressure on China on all aspects of DIME. So Xi is making mistakes. He's been exposed by Trump and China's malice and ambition has been exposed.
Roger.
You are saying that 8 year old girl, who happened to be a US citizen, was a risk to the USA? Do you have disdain for all of the US Constitution, or just parts of it?
Haha that's Gold Roger. My kind of humour
Bob, in your reply above,10:44PM, my answers to your questions are "NO" and "NO". Your questions have no basis in reality.
As you well knew when you typed them.
Now I want my Three Galaxies reward though you can keep the diamonds and oak leaf cluster that normally attend such awards. You may not be aware that they do have a taint from a few generations ago.
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