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October 1999
Democracy in Hong Kong
Through your column, I would like to express my feelings on the lack of democratization in Hong Kong.
Some of the citizens would think that the lack of democratization in Hong Kong is because of the reluctance of the British Government. Actually, I can understand why they think that way. It's always easier to find a scapegoat than to find the real culprit, especially when the real culprit is actually ruling us now!
In my opinion, the Chinese government is responsible for the lack of democratization in Hong Kong. Some may ask why Chinese government has to oppose democratization in Hong Kong. There are a few answers to this question.
Firstly, as there are some anti-Communist organizations existing in Hong Kong, the Chinese government is afraid that if democracy is substantiated, Hong Kong would become the headquarter of subversion to the Communist government.
Secondly, the ideology of the Communist government is totally different from that of its British counterparts. The British government is a rather democratic one, so it can feel its obligation to democratize HK. But for the Chinese side, it is rather an authoritarian government, showing suspicion to its people.
Thirdly, the Chinese government believes that if the territory is democratized, it can no longer maintain "prosperity and stability". The most obvious evidence that can prove the Chinese government is opposing Hong Kong's democracy development is that it only allows indirect election and functional constituency. This way of election only covers a small group of voters and it is actually stopping the development of the "right to vote" and "eligibility for public office".
However, I can understand that there are few things we could do to improve the situation.
Hong Kong has to rely on China economically. However, after looking at the background and the historical facts, we can find that the Chinese government is, to a large extent, an obstacle to the democratization of Hong Kong. I think Hong Kong is already well prepared for democratization. It is the Chinese government that strategically stops the development. I think the Chinese government should not leave a blind eye to the need of HK people anymore. It's now time for the Chinese government to give Hong Kong people democracy.
A. Lai
To Kwa Wan
Orientation camp 1999
After a long summer holiday, the new semester is starting. In my past experience, most university students would go on a vacation during summer. I find it quite interesting to know more about the most popular places for summer vacation. Do you have such findings on this topic? If yes, please tell us more about this in the coming Varsity. I'm sure that many of our classmates would like to know.
Please consider my suggestions and I wish Varsity all the success!
Josephine
Chan
Kowloon
Tong
Identity crisis
Hong Kong has returned to
the Chinese sovereignty in 1997 and I wonder if the people in the
tertiary could really accept this fact.
I went back to Hong Kong on vacation last June and my experience
told me that most of them were still not ready to accept their
new identities.
For example, let me give you one, everyone has to fill in many
forms and documents. In the blank "Nationality", I saw
people exchanging ideas of whether to fill in "Chinese"
or "British". "Nationality" is supposed to be
one of the personal details. Not only do many of them have to
exchange ideas of what to fill in, but they have to discuss what
other people won't give a second thought. Asking what to fill in
for the blank "Nationality" would be like asking what
to fill in for the blank "Sex" or "Name".
Worse still, some fill in "BN(O)", which is pronounced as "British national bracket overseas". I always thought that it was a name of the passport, but not a nationality.
I feel ashamed when I have to hesitate on what other people won't bother to give a second thought. But what does the term "Nationality" really mean to us? I am a BN(O) passport holder with no Chinese nor British citizenship. Perhaps I should fill in "Not applicable" in this blank next time, shouldn't I?
Name withheld by
request
Vancouver, Canada
Too much commercialised
ATV has recently recruited a large group of audience by the "import" of several Taiwanese drama series.
More significantly, it turned out to be a break point of the viewing habits in Hong Kong in which TVB is always a distant leader, especially in ratings.
I am not here to discuss why the break point would occur this summer nor am I going to make suggestions on how to retain the "norm" by certain marketing strategies.
To me, what matters is the almost perfectly commercialized policy set by the TV stations. Under this policy, not only the interests of the minority audience are deprived, but also the space for local producers to experience their creativity.
Why is it often criticized that local audience and producers have no real taste in TV productions? Please rethink.
Ho
Yun Ki
Mong Kok
Letters to the Editor, with the write's name, address and daytime contact number should be sent to: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Room 204, Humanities Building, New Asia College, of faxed to 2603-6610, or e-mailed to varsity@cuhk.edu.hk. Letters may be edited for reasons of space, style and clarity.
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