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THREAD: I would like to talk about the issue of HK from the aspect of power. People who used to the Western democratic system always find the Communist Party is weak as they don’t know how to engage with the general public, that argument is not entirely wrong. 1
But the same party also knows how to control power. I can’t think of another party in the world knows how to play the game of power better than the Communist Party. And, Politics is about power. 2
The legislation is a game changer, not because the law itself, not because how tough or how greedy it is, but because the way it changed the power structure of the city, fundamentally.
Previously, or Since 1997, the city enjoyed an unique status of rather independent trias politica. There’s a legislature, an executive, and a judiciary, and they are separated one from the other. 4
From 1997 until now, the city’s power structure groomed to one that’s different from early British colonial time, when the governor had bigger power compared to the modern Chief Executive.
The new law empowered the Chief Executive to an unprecedented level. Legislature is likely to remain largely independent, but the executive will be 100% and a core part of the judiciary will be under the umbrella of the CE. 6
One may argue the current CE is weak and won’t be able to handle the power and pressure, but bare in mind that the party always think long run. The current CE will not be the one to implement everything, she’s the one to layout the ground, or to take the blames.
To be sure, business communities won’t be hurt much as of now. Ideally Beijing wants to restore the early colonial style Hong Kong that has zero political freedom but enjoys great economic freedom. 8
Whether the business communities and investors would believe this or not remains as a question, but it’s in Beijing’s interests to have a stable HK. That said, Chinese in general want stability, and there’s a tendency that they think others also want the same. 9
After all, the HK issues are no longer HK issues. It’s about the two super powers. END
