Why is Hong Kong so important to China?

[Akrapovic]

The analyst Pablo González, who lives on the island, explains the consequences of the new extradition law against which they protest massively

The extradition law from Hong Kong to China is one more step that would favor Beijing to gradually regain full control of this city and end its status as Special Administrative Region. In other words it could be interpreted as the preparation of the "landing strip" of this city in the territorial and administrative order of China.

For its residents, it is the change of the formula "One Country, Two Systems" to "One Country One System" (Asian Survey, 2019). In addition, its power to attract foreign investment would also be affected.

Since 1997 Hong Kong began a process of reincorporation to the Chinese territorial and administrative order. This process is the result of the 1984 Joint Declaration of China and England.

As agreed between England and China, Beijing undertook to give special treatment to Hong Kong for 50 years (until 2047), granting it a status of Special Administrative Region framed in the formula of Deng Xiaoping of "One Country, Two Systems" for the reunification of territories (Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao). Under this formula, China claims to respect the independence in administrative and economic matters, this makes Hong Kong maintain a different executive, legislative and judicial power than China, a different currency and a totally different economic system (capitalist different from the socialist with Chinese characteristics ).

In the 80's Hong Kong was already an economic reference and investment center of great interest to China that in the 90's saw the fruits of the gradual economic reforms and opening to the world promoted by Deng Xiaoping since 1978. (Economic reforms without major change in the politician

In addition to its enormous economic and commercial importance, Hong Kong as well as Taiwan are part of the central interests of China, its recovery and full control has a great nationalist meaning and dye, because these territories were lost during the so-called "Century of Humiliation" for China after the first Opium War (1839-1942) and the first Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) respectively. Therefore its total control, dominance and not allowing any kind of foreign influence is a way of telling the world that China will never tolerate again any interference that affects their interests.

From Hong Kong most of the foreign investment flows to mainland China, the city is among the ten largest exporters worldwide, has the second largest stock exchange in Asia and strategic position for the capitals of the booming economies of Asia Pacific, between other many characteristics, also the position of greater port is disputed with the Chinese cities like Ning Bo and Shang Hai (Expansión Mex, 2014).

It is a key point for the ambitious project of global Chinese interconnection of the Strip and the Route (3 trillion dollars) for its proximity to the Strait of Malacca where more than 25% of the goods cross the world (UNAV, 2018) .

After having reviewed the importance of Hong Kong for China and returning to the main theme; the extradition law has a background that would not only allow for the extradition of criminals persecuted by Beijing, but Hong Kongans fear that human rights defenders, political dissidents, activists, and anyone who opposes or criticizes the Beijing government may be extradited also, where we often see in the media that there is no respect for human rights, there is no due process but there are precarious conditions in prisons, these are situations contrary to the freedom enjoyed by the citizens of Hong Kong. Clearly this generates discomfort and great concern in a territory where the majority of the po[CENSORED]tion does not want to rejoin China where the system of checks and balances is almost nil due to the Chinese Communist Party's control over all members of the government, where there is a great restriction on freedom of expression and currently control over the unprecedented po[CENSORED]tion.

In 2014 the citizens of Hong Kong had already demonstrated to demand greater autonomy and respect for the Joint Declaration of China and England, the citizens demanded that the elections be done in such a way that the leader of the executive power of Hong Kong was directly elected by suffrage independent universal without citizens having to choose between a small group proposed by a pro-Beijing majority committee with candidates with strong connections with the Chinese Communist Party.