The sun rises in HK

The sun rises in HK

The sun has finally set for the once great British empire with
today's hand over of Hong Kong to China. But for the territory,
and the rest of Asia, the sun will shine even brighter. Until
this morning, Hong Kong had been one of the few last vestiges of
European colonialism, which for most of Asia, is a dark era in
its history. Any form of colonialism is deplorable and must, as a
matter of principle, be eliminated from the face of the earth. On
that count, the sun had never really risen in Hong Kong until
today when the clouds of colonialism evaporates from Asia's
skies.

This message is unfortunately lost amid the fireworks and
fanfare recently seen in Hong Kong, marking the return of the
territory to its rightful owner. The event has been widely hyped
by the Western media which paid greater attention to the
contrasting economic and political systems between Hong Kong and
China, and to the fate of the handful of people in Hong Kong now
that they are technically Chinese citizens.

Without being an apologist for colonialism, there is something
to be said about British rule in Hong Kong. The territory
represents the few rare -- one is tempted to say the only one --
exceptions where colonialism succeeded in fostering economic and
social advancement for the local people.

British colonialism has been known to be more benevolent
compared to other European nations like the French, Belgian, and
Dutch. British rulers built social, economic and political
infrastructure in virtually all their colonies. They left a
legacy that was appreciated by their former subjects after they
won independence. And when it left its colonies, Britain arranged
for a smooth hand over in virtually every case. This is in
contrast to the bloody and bitter struggle that we saw in other
former European colonies, including Indonesia, as they fought for
independence and self-rule.

Some of the fears about Hong Kong's future under Chinese rule
are real, but most have been overplayed. Beijing has not only
assured it will maintain the current economic system in Hong
Kong, it knows that it is in its own interests to do so. Hong
Kong, in its present status as one of Asia's chief financial
hubs, will complement the rapid economic growth that has been
taking place in mainland China. Shanghai and other bustling
industrial cities on the eastern and southern coasts of China
will reap immense benefits from the repossession of Hong Kong.
One cannot see any reason why Beijing would want to upset this by
changing the capitalist economic system in Hong Kong. A smooth
handover is more in the interest of China than Britain.

For the rest of Asia, their greater concern is not about what
Beijing would do with Hong Kong, but what an economically
powerful China, now with the help of Hong Kong, is capable of
doing. The emergence of China into a world economic power has
long been the subject of heated discussion among Asian officials
and scholars. The repossession of Hong Kong, and all that it
entails for China's budding economy, is bound to invigorate the
debate even further. There are still lingering concerns among
Asian countries about China's territorial ambitions, and beliefs
that Beijing will not stop at Hong Kong and Taiwan, but will also
expand southward.

But for the moment, economic competition remains the name of
the game as Asian nations strive to bolster their economies
through trade. Hong Kong may be just the ticket that China needs
as it joins in this international economic game, but the former
British colony will also continue to serve as a financial center
for the rest of Asia.

There is optimism, albeit guarded, as we welcome the return of
Hong Kong to China.