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.