Hong Kong and Taiwanese academics looking at Hong Kong's development under "one country, two systems" agreed Taiwan and Hong Kong both want democracy but that the formula has made the road to democracy a rough one.
"Pursuing democracy under the one country, two systems' formula is very difficult," said Joseph Cheng (
Chen was speaking at a confernence yesterday on Hong Kong under "one country, two systems" hosted by the Taiwan Advocates think tank.
PHOTO: REUTERS
A presenter in the seminar and a long-time fighter for democracy, Cheng said that Hong Kong had no choice but to accept the "one country, two systems" formula.
"However, the difficulties we encounter now cannot compare with what Taiwan experienced during the 1940s and 1950s when the people fought for democracy. We often think about our friends in Taiwan in our current difficulty," said Cheng said.
Byron Weng (
Citing the 500,000-strong mass demonstration in Hong Kong on July 1, Weng said that the demonstration forced Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's (
"[Through the demonstration,] the Hong Kong people ? found a new tool and power to influence the Special Administrative Region [SAR]'s politics and to steer their own destiny," Weng said.
Nevertheless, Weng said, the Hong Kong people have little reasons to be optimistic.
"The problems in the SAR's political system stem from the `bird-cage democracy' created under the `one country, two systems' formula." Weng said.
Hong Kong cannot get rid of the "one country" principle, Weng said. "The one country is run by a communist regime, which views democracy as a flood or a monster and uproots all powers that might subvert its government."
The communist regime, also supresses speeches and activities that challenge its authority, Weng said.
"The Chinese government has granted Hong Kong people a high degree of sovereignty, but it does not mean it will allow the SAR to become a base for what it calls subversion," Weng said.
In order to ensure things will not go wrong in Hong Kong, the Chinese government designed a "bird-cage democracy."
"Under the system, the real power lies in the chief executive, not in institutions representing the people's will," Weng said.
Such a regime possesses democratic elements but lacks democratic results, Weng said.
Wong Yuk-man (黃毓民), a popular Hong Kong talk-show host who mobilized nearly 100,000 people for the July 1 demonstration, said that -- unlike Taiwan -- Hong Kong cannot strive for its independence from China.
"We must fight for [true] democracy under the bird-cage democracy," Wong said.
Chang Jung-feng (
"Only when democracy blossoms in Taiwan and Hong Kong can the people in mainland China have hope for democracy," Chang said.
Chen Ming-tong (
Chen Yi (陳儀), the provincial governor who assumed a position similar to that now held by Tung in Hong Kong, mismanaged the administration, Chen Ming-tong said.
That mismanagement, said Chen Ming-tong, led to the traumatic 228 Incident -- a bloody conflict between KMT troops and local Taiwanese.
"A country cannot have half of its people free while the other half remains enslaved," Chen Ming-tong said.
The "one country, two systems" formula can never succeed in human history, he added.
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