After one year of protests in Hong Kong, China’s latest security policy has made the fears of pro-democratic forces a reality. While China eventually withdrew its controversial 2019 extradition proposal, the bill incited cries for a fully democratic and transparent government. Hong Kongers feared this bill set a precedent for China to tighten its control over the region. Sure enough, China has since increased its authority in Hong Kong; in late May, to the shock of locals, China imposed a national security law on the region to halt the continuous anti-government protests. This new law grants China unprecedented control over Hong Kong’s free speech.
China’s national security law signals a larger change in its relationship with Hong Kong. The increased mainland involvement in Hong Kong’s local affairs infringes on the “One Country, Two Systems” principle and marks the beginning of a “One Country, One System” policy. By limiting Hong Kongers’ freedoms, the national security law contradicts the “One Country, Two Systems” principle as Hong Kong’s right to protest is key to this agreement.
Under this principle, Hong Kong was meant to be an autonomous state. This policy was implemented in 1997 when Britain handed Hong Kong to China under the agreement that Hong Kong would have separate legal, political, and socioeconomic sectors. This arrangement also protected Hong Kong’s freedom of speech and its citizens’ ability to protest against the mainland government.
But, with China’s increased control over the region, this autonomy is being called into question. In May, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo informed Congress that Hong Kong should “no longer be considered an autonomous state.” Pompeo cited China’s drastic decision to include Hong Kong in its national security law, which provides grounds for China to prosecute political activists.
For the first 50 years of Chinese control, until 2047, Hong Kong was to select its Cheif Executive through the representative Election Committee without interference. However, China has since disqualified pro-independence legislators from taking their seats in the Legislative Council and has pushed policies that allow candidates to be vetted through the mainland government. This legislation failed mainly because of public pressure against Chinese intervention.
Over the past 20 years, it has become clear that China is reluctant to support Hong Kong as a fully autonomous, democratic state. The extradition bill and national security law have demonstrated China’s increased intent to curtail Hong Kong’s freedom. While protests continue against the security law, it seems unlikely they will have any notable effect on policy change. Unlike the extradition bill, the new national security law has already been enacted multiple times to disperse crowds of protesters.
If China’s attempts to tighten control over Hong Kong continue to succeed, then the fall of the “One Country, Two System” principle seems inevitable.
