I would argue that the goose is in fact being slowly strangled to death now. HK’s unique way of life, clean and competent government, respect of the law, etc, are in fact what made HK successful and set it apart from other Chinese cities. It is becoming increasingly obvious now that these qualities are being gradually eroded over the years, and the place is starting to look more and more like China.
True, HK did not enjoy complete democracy even under the Brits. However, despite claims that Maggie Thatcher being the anti-Christ or what not, back in the days, the HK government did not answer to a corrupt authoritarian Commie regime that’s all too happy to fuck its citizens over. Now it does. I think that should put the need for democracy at a whole other level. I’ll also point out that HK used to have a democratically elected Legislative Council (the equivalent of the Parliament in the UK or the Congress in the US). China promptly dissolved it the first day it took over.
True – but the Legislative Council was established in 1843 and did not become an elected body until 1991; and it was, in fact, re-established in 1998, and is still an elected body – though, I am sure, “elected” only in the very conditional sense that the Iranian Parliament and president are “elected,” i.e., you can vote for anyone the unelected higher-ups find acceptable.
How has the “left” become irrelevant in British politics? Thatcher’s Conservative Party was voted out of power in 1997 and Labour has been in ever since. Or are you saying the Labour Party is not part of the left? What does that make it - the center or the right? And if so, where does that put the Conservatives - on the far right?
Britain had the most powerful and effective navy in the world in 1805, and the idea that the force Nelson destroyed at Trafalgar was part of an invasion of England is a myth. Also in 1940 the British were able to depend on the manpower and resources of a worldwide empire, so to stay they were standing alone against Germany after the fall of France is a pleasant but inaccurate myth.
Calling either of those decisions the height of folly is hyperbole at best, and an outright lie at worst.
I agree with you on your history, Michael Ellis, but I would say that standing up to China over HK, to the minimal extent of granting citizenship, carried infinitessimally small risks as compared to these three situations.
They weren’t the height of folly. But they were a damn site more dangerous than doing the morally correct thing for HK residents.
Possibly, but I wasn’t venturing an opinion over Hong Kong. Although really, there wasn’t much that the UK could actually do in a showdown with China over Hong Kong.
The UK was standing alone in the sense it was the UK’s decision alone to continue, and it was the UK - including the cities - that bore the burden of Germany’s focus.
Having said that, the contribution of the empire (in the ability of the UK to be in a position to continue) was immense, especially in 1940-41.
Prison? Transportation…my long deceased relative from Ireland had his death sentence commuted to transportation to Australia. Of which I am quite proud.