The standard reaction of every returnee is to look at the changes and be astonished.
We are, to use an English vernacular phrase made famous by your Governor in a rather more vulgar period of his career, "gobsmacked" by what has happened since we left.
This time it is not the new sky or shore line, but the new "feel" of the place which "gobsmacked" me.
When I was last here, in the shadow of Tien An Men, I remember commenting to a friend that I thought Hong Kong was suddenly coming of age like a teenager catapulted into adulthood by a close family bereavement. I cannot believe how quickly the process has progressed.
I remember people, usually those with a vested interest in keeping things the same, saying with a nodding of wise heads, that Hong Kong couldn't cope with democratisation not ready yet whole apple cart old boy that kind of thing.
Phooey !
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upset the
From what I can tell, Hong Kong has responded extremely maturely to democratisation and contrary to expectations, participation in the democratic process has rooted itself, not just in the middle classes, but right across the social and racial spectrum. Indeed, if anything, the middle class in Hong Kong appear to be amongst those more fearful of change and to have a role rather less central than in most other free societies. Maybe there is a problem for the future here a fearful middle class is a very dangerous thing.
But perhaps most of all I am struck by a new, powerful sense of civic pride in Hong Kong. It is clearly detectable in the new buildings and parks. But perhaps even more so in the whole sub culture of civic life evident in a way I cannot previously recall.
The parallel which strikes me is with the Hanseatic city states of Germany in the 16th century. Mercantilist, citizen based, confident of their status, proud of their city, aggressive in their commerce, but always acutely sensitive to the politics and relationships of their larger neighbours on which the free passage of their trade depended.
And my second random observation is about Britain.
I have been highly critical of British policy on Hong Kong and I remain so. I have not minced my words in the past and I don't intend to start now.
I still believe that the present Government's failure to stand up for Hong Kong effectively, and especially its failure to honour the rights of BDTC passport holders has been not only shameful and a denial of our responsibilities, but also against Britain's long
term interests in this region.
I also share the view that Britain has been far too weak in its negotiations with the PRC.
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