The End of “One Country, Two Systems”

Hong Kong’s noble yet futile fight for freedom against a rising superpower

Hong Kong has been operating under a policy known as “One Country, Two Systems” for the last 23 years, which classifies Hong Kong as a part of China while also granting the region a semi-autonomous status. Under the agreement, Hong Kong is permitted to continue having its own government, legal and economic systems as well as trade relations with foreign countries, all independent from mainland China. 

Hong Kong grabbed international news headlines back in June 2019 when two million citizens took to the streets to protest an extradition bill. This would have allowed any “criminal suspects” detained in Hong Kong to be transferred over to mainland China for trial. The problem is that mainland China does not have the same laws regarding a free and fair trial as in Hong Kong. If this extradition bill were passed, it would have effectively negated the rights to legal autonomy that Hong Kong is entitled to under the “One Country, Two Systems” policy. Beijing has previously attempted to pass other laws that would threaten the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong citizens, so this was widely and immediately seen as China’s next step of undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy.  

Although these protests began with one demand—to withdraw the newly proposed extradition bill—they highlighted a deep-seated political unrest, which then unfolded into a wider pro-democracy movement that continued on into 2020. The extradition bill came to symbolically represent Hong Kong’s long struggle to retain its rights and democratic freedoms separate from a slowly encroaching mainland China. The latest development in May, which many are calling “the end of Hong Kong,” has been a national security law that similarly undermines Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms.

Why does China care so much about Hong Kong? To answer that question, we have to look at history. In the late 1700s, China’s Qing Empire was the world’s largest economy and had conquered and ruled over one-third of the world’s population. Having invented gunpowder, the compass, paper and printing, Ancient China was considered advanced well beyond other civilizations at the time. China saw itself as the center of the universe, embodied even by its name “中国” which translates to “Middle Kingdom,” as they believed they were the center of the world.  

It was a combination of internal unrest and an external threat from Western powers which eventually led to the fall of the Qing Dynasty and caused mainland China to lose control over the territory of Hong Kong. This was a huge blow to China’s reputation, and the country entered into a period later known as the century of humiliation brought on by the West. 

Chinese culture cares about saving face, unity within the country and national strength.

Hong Kong’s semi-autonomous status and legal separation from the mainland has served as a reminder of this dark period in China’s history and to portray its strength as a nation, Beijing has a vested interest in reunifying Hong Kong with the mainland. This is one small piece in a long-term plan known as the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Just as there is an “American Dream” there is also a “Chinese Dream.” Unfortunately for Hong Kong citizens, mass protests alone are not enough to sway the Chinese government. Sooner or later, Hong Kong was going to be absorbed by the mainland and subjected to the same laws under the Chinese Communist Party.

Dissatisfaction with Hong Kong’s government is widespread and continues to gain momentum and support both within Hong Kong and internationally. However, given China’s relative power, Hong Kong will never be free from China’s influence and was already destined to be forcibly absorbed into China’s system. The joint declaration granting the “One Country, Two Systems” policy was set to expire in 2047, after which Hong Kong would become fully governed by the Chinese Communist Party. Sadly, we are now seeing a premature encroachment on Hong Kong’s semi-autonomous status, but if we look at the big picture it’s clear that this was inevitable.