Page 8 - Zenith 12호

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Back in 1997, the British relinquished control of Hong Kong to China with the
agreement that Hong Kong would remain semi-autonomous. So, Hong Kong would
retain its own freedom of the press, speech, and assembly. But there is also censorship
and governance in China. While officially being a part of China, Hong Kong does not
have the same culture – one country two systems. The protesters in Hong Kong don’t
want to be absorbed into China. 2047 brings the idea of assimilation into China, Hong
Kong wanted to be independent before. The protesters have targeted businesses that
support China with violence and boycotts. China claims it must immediately stop the
violence and bring peace, they say protesters are illegal like terrorists. China has backed
the leader of Hong Kong, Lam, who has been trying to stamp out the protesters in any
way they can. China has not actually had to do much in the way of active suppression
because Hong Kong leadership has done it for them. However, there are 6,000 people’s
Liberation Army soldiers stationed in Hong Kong, so Hong Kong has some fear of
active suppression happening. Now, the U.K has no patience for China’s brutality, they
were angry that China didn’t keep its promise when China received their sovereignty.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says in the video that was uploaded on Twitter
in 2022, China did not keep their one country two systems promise after getting control
of Hong Kong in 1997. The U.K and China consulted to keep the original system with
a high degree of autonomy during 50 years after the return of Hong Kong through a
communique with China and U.K in 1984.
But Mr. Johnson thinks the situation is that Hong Kong was threatened for claims of
freedom from China. Chinese officials have previously rejected British criticism saying
it should keep out of the affairs of Hong Kong and accusing it of retaining a colonial
mindset despite the handover. And they claim “Hong Kong is China’s Hong Kong
and no external force has the right to interfere.” Johnson said “we’re not giving up on
Hong Kong. 25 years ago, we made a promise to the territory and its people, and we
intend to keep it.” He added that the British would “do all we can to hold China to its
commitments, so that Hong Kong is once again run by the people of Hong Kong, for the
people of Hong Kong.”

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