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Opinion | Carrie Lam’s policy address shows Beijing is in the driver’s seat on Hong Kong’s future
- The plans detailed in the latest policy address indicate both Beijing’s high hopes for Hong Kong’s development and frustration at its lack of progress
- Hong Kong’s autonomy remains in place, but the city’s political elite need to show the people that this is still the case
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Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s 2021 policy address represents a watershed in Hong Kong’s political and governance development. It lays out the relationship between Beijing and Hong Kong and how it will continue to evolve at a time of high geopolitical tensions.
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Hong Kong is both an external and internal issue for the central authorities. It is external because the city is an element in China’s ongoing contest with the United States. It is internal because Hong Kong is part of China.
For the city, while its local governance structure and system are transforming to buttress national security, the fact that Hong Kong is a point of friction between big powers is discomforting.
Prior to the delivery of this year’s policy address, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had produced a document crafted as though it was evidence for the prosecution.
The ministry issued a fact sheet on September 24 that included a long list of what it called “interference” by the US in Hong Kong affairs. There are named individuals from Hong Kong, some of whom were legislators and political activists, who urged American politicians to sanction Hong Kong and the mainland.
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Taiwan denounces mainland China for ‘over the top’ flights into island’s air defence zone
Taiwan denounces mainland China for ‘over the top’ flights into island’s air defence zone
Tension is also high with respect to Taiwan. Beijing is very sensitive to what it sees as secessionist activities there under the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen.
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