The increasing repression being visited upon Hong Kong by Beijing is well documented. The Chinese regime is muddling in the city’s politics, which are supposed to be off limits. Beijing has also kidnapped several people from Hong Kong, even though the Chinese police legally have no jurisdiction there.
Beijing’s activities are in contravention of the 1984 agreement struck between China and Great Britain, the port city’s then-colonial master. At the time, China agreed to continue to grant a “high degree of autonomy” to the city until 2047. Indeed, this was a condition of Britain’s relinquishing the territory.
So, China is manifestly thumbing its nose at an agreement it signed. But perhaps even more disturbing than the actual repression is China’s justification for it. A spokesman for the foreign ministry in Beijing said “the arrangements during the transitional period . . . are now history and of no practical significance. . . . The British side has no sovereignty, no power to rule and supervise Hong Kong.”
In other words, the contract that Beijing agreed to—which was supposed to cover the period until 2047—is moot because the deal was signed in the past. That’s an amazing justification for failure to live up to the terms of an agreement. And also a warning sign about China’s adherence to any agreements it signs. Regarding for example, trade or climate change.
