MAC says Hong Kong risks losing autonomy

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on June 30, 2006. It reports that according to an analytical report conducted by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), Hong Kong should develop close ties with Taiwan. This can be done by strengthening exchanges of visits by opinion leaders and by setting up representative offices in order to facilitate the development of substantive relations between the two sides.

Indeed, according to the report, Hong Kong risks losing its autonomy and democratic freedoms as China gains greater economic and political control over the territory. The "one country, two systems" model adopted when Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule has focused more on making Hong Kong a part of the Chinese Mainland, than allowing the two systems to go their separate ways.

"Over the years, the Chinese authorities have continued to intervene forcefully in Hong Kong affairs, while the Hong Kong administration has imposed self-restraint on its own autonomy," the report said.

Eventually, the excessive fusion between China and Hong Kong could pose political and economic risks to the territory. For example, by the end of 2005, 335 Chinese enterprises had raised about US$140 billion from Hong Kong's stock market, accounting for about 40 percent of the market's total capitalization.

"Hong Kong faces the worries of being marginalized in the wake of China's strong economic growth," the report said.

Worse, according to a report from Hong Kong's journalists' society, Hong Kong's press freedoms could be jeopardized as China invests more in its news organizations.