The sun rises in HK<\/p>\n
The sun has finally set for the once great British empire with
\ntoday's hand over of Hong Kong to China. But for the territory,
\nand the rest of Asia, the sun will shine even brighter. Until
\nthis morning, Hong Kong had been one of the few last vestiges of
\nEuropean colonialism, which for most of Asia, is a dark era in
\nits history. Any form of colonialism is deplorable and must, as a
\nmatter of principle, be eliminated from the face of the earth. On
\nthat count, the sun had never really risen in Hong Kong until
\ntoday when the clouds of colonialism evaporates from Asia's
\nskies.<\/p>\n
This message is unfortunately lost amid the fireworks and
\nfanfare recently seen in Hong Kong, marking the return of the
\nterritory to its rightful owner. The event has been widely hyped
\nby the Western media which paid greater attention to the
\ncontrasting economic and political systems between Hong Kong and
\nChina, and to the fate of the handful of people in Hong Kong now
\nthat they are technically Chinese citizens.<\/p>\n
Without being an apologist for colonialism, there is something
\nto be said about British rule in Hong Kong. The territory
\nrepresents the few rare -- one is tempted to say the only one --
\nexceptions where colonialism succeeded in fostering economic and
\nsocial advancement for the local people.<\/p>\n
British colonialism has been known to be more benevolent
\ncompared to other European nations like the French, Belgian, and
\nDutch. British rulers built social, economic and political
\ninfrastructure in virtually all their colonies. They left a
\nlegacy that was appreciated by their former subjects after they
\nwon independence. And when it left its colonies, Britain arranged
\nfor a smooth hand over in virtually every case. This is in
\ncontrast to the bloody and bitter struggle that we saw in other
\nformer European colonies, including Indonesia, as they fought for
\nindependence and self-rule.<\/p>\n
Some of the fears about Hong Kong's future under Chinese rule
\nare real, but most have been overplayed. Beijing has not only
\nassured it will maintain the current economic system in Hong
\nKong, it knows that it is in its own interests to do so. Hong
\nKong, in its present status as one of Asia's chief financial
\nhubs, will complement the rapid economic growth that has been
\ntaking place in mainland China. Shanghai and other bustling
\nindustrial cities on the eastern and southern coasts of China
\nwill reap immense benefits from the repossession of Hong Kong.
\nOne cannot see any reason why Beijing would want to upset this by
\nchanging the capitalist economic system in Hong Kong. A smooth
\nhandover is more in the interest of China than Britain.<\/p>\n
For the rest of Asia, their greater concern is not about what
\nBeijing would do with Hong Kong, but what an economically
\npowerful China, now with the help of Hong Kong, is capable of
\ndoing. The emergence of China into a world economic power has
\nlong been the subject of heated discussion among Asian officials
\nand scholars. The repossession of Hong Kong, and all that it
\nentails for China's budding economy, is bound to invigorate the
\ndebate even further. There are still lingering concerns among
\nAsian countries about China's territorial ambitions, and beliefs
\nthat Beijing will not stop at Hong Kong and Taiwan, but will also
\nexpand southward.<\/p>\n
But for the moment, economic competition remains the name of
\nthe game as Asian nations strive to bolster their economies
\nthrough trade. Hong Kong may be just the ticket that China needs
\nas it joins in this international economic game, but the former
\nBritish colony will also continue to serve as a financial center
\nfor the rest of Asia.<\/p>\n
There is optimism, albeit guarded, as we welcome the return of
\nHong Kong to China.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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