Did YOU know this about Hong Kong, China?

[Irving]

Hong Kong is basically economically and politically independent from the rest of China. I had no idea. Kind of sheds that city in a new light.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong

[ronaldrwl]

Yes, the UK gave it over to them in 1999?

[Irving]

1997. I feel like I never learned that in school. Not exactly surprised.

[ronaldrwl]

It was part of the crumbling British Empire. But you did learn about social values and to love mother Earth, right?

[cowboykjohnson]

New news to me...

[Irving]

Check out this picture of Hong Kong.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ht_Skyline.jpg

I don't see how China can look at independent Hong Kong, then turn around and see the rest of the dirt poor rice farmers in the rest of the country, and still think that communism is a great idea.

[ronaldrwl]

Spectacular

[Troublco]

Check out this picture of Hong Kong.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ht_Skyline.jpg

I don't see how China can look at independent Hong Kong, then turn around and see the rest of the dirt poor rice farmers in the rest of the country, and still think that communism is a great idea.

If you're part of the ruling elite in China, I'm sure the rest of China looks just fine. After all, who cares what the peons think?

[Drilldo]

Wow.

Check out this picture of Hong Kong.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ht_Skyline.jpg

I don't see how China can look at independent Hong Kong, then turn around and see the rest of the dirt poor rice farmers in the rest of the country, and still think that communism is a great idea.

[Not_A_Llama]

Check out this picture of Hong Kong.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ht_Skyline.jpg

I don't see how China can look at independent Hong Kong, then turn around and see the rest of the dirt poor rice farmers in the rest of the country, and still think that communism is a great idea.

There's a lot of misconceptions and distorted views of China.

HK's autonomy is pretty much granted on the basis of it being a Special Autonomous Region, more-or-less at the pleasure of the central government. Anything worthwhile won't stand in the face of the central government, as has been seen by the the PRC appointees overseeing the region. The PRC garrison troops for HK are armed with the best and newest. The Chinese government is incredibly patient, and will take its sweet time bringing the city back into the fold.

While HK is nice (eh, sorta), and stunningly photogenic, Shanghai and Guangzhou in PRC proper are easily "nicer" places to live, and are startlingly futuristic. We aren't building anything near what you can find in those cities. HK's somewhere like 5th or 6th on the list of largest cities in China. I don't like the Chinese government, but they're definitely not missing anything.

Then there's the "communism" thing. While the Chinese government might claim to be "communist", it's pretty much been in name only since Deng Xiaoping's reforms in the 80s. Private property ownership is a reality, market dynamics are reality, commerce and profit are king, small business and private entrepreneurship are a way of life. Chinese people are intrinsically probably the most brutally capitalist people you'll find on earth (cf. lead painted toys, melamine milk, etc). So long as you're not a threat to the state, or don't piss off or embarrass the wrong official, you can basically do anything you want.

I hate to say it, but the way we're headed, China's going to be (if they're not already) freer than we are. They're definitely more economically vibrant.

I guess the last thing I'd point out is that like most any country on earth, there's the rich urban areas, and there's backwards rural areas. It's not like everyone's in coolie hats, plowing fields behind oxen. About half the population lives in cities. China, like any country, is a mix of first world elements, third world elements, and everything in-between. My best example of how to think about this is to consider that here in America, you can go from NYC to toothless Appalachia in a few hours of driving. Same idea.