\u00a0It is a slur on the integrity and principles of Hong Kong\u2019s citizens to assert, as the Chinese government\u2019s propaganda machine does, that they are being manipulated by outside forces. What motivates Hong Kong\u2019s tens of thousands of demonstrators is a passionate belief that they should be able to run their affairs as they were promised, choosing those who govern them in free and fair elections.<\/p>\n
Others outside of Hong Kong have a legitimate interest in what happens in the city. Hong Kong is a great international center, whose freedoms and autonomy were guaranteed in a treaty registered at the United Nations. In particular, the United Kingdom, the other party to this Sino-British declaration sought and received guarantees that the survival of Hong Kong\u2019s autonomy and liberties would be guaranteed for 50 years.<\/p>\n
So it is ridiculous to suggest that British ministers and parliamentarians should keep their noses out of Hong Kong\u2019s affairs.<\/p>\n
The biggest problems have arisen because of a dispute about where Hong Kong\u2019s promised path to democracy should take it, and when. No one told Hong Kongers when they were assured of universal suffrage that it would not mean being able to choose for whom they could vote.<\/p>\n
As early as 1993, China\u2019s chief negotiator on Hong Kong, Lu Ping, told the newspaper People\u2019s Daily<\/em>, \u201cThe [method of universal suffrage] should be reported to [China\u2019s Parliament] for the record, whereas the central government\u2019s agreement is not necessary. How Hong Kong develops its democracy in the future is completely within the sphere of the autonomy of Hong Kong. The central government will not interfere.\u201d The following year, China\u2019s foreign ministry confirmed this.<\/p>\n The British Parliament summarized what had been said and promised in a report ion Hong Kong in 2000. \u201cThe Chinese government has therefore formally accepted that it is for the Hong Kong government to determine the extent and nature of democracy in Hong Kong.\u201d<\/p>\n The peaceful demonstrators in Hong Kong, with their umbrellas and refuse-collection bags, will not themselves be swept off the streets like garbage or bullied into submission by tear gas and pepper spray. Any attempt to do so would present a terrible and damaging picture of Hong Kong and China to the world, and would be an affront to all that China should aspire to be.<\/p>\n The Hong Kong authorities have gravely miscalculated the views of their citizens. Like the bad courtiers against whom Confucius warned, they went to Beijing and told the emperor what they thought he wanted to hear, not what the situation really was in the city. They must think again.<\/p>\n Under the existing plans, there is supposed to be a second phase of consultations on democratic development to follow what turned out to be a counterfeit start to the process. Hong Kong\u2019s government should now offer its people a proper second round of consultation, one that is open and honest. Dialogue is the only sensible way forward. Hong Kong\u2019s citizens are not irresponsible or unreasonable. A decent compromise that allows for elections that people can recognize as fair, not fixed, is surely available.<\/p>\n The demonstrators in Hong Kong, young and old, represent the city\u2019s future. Their hopes are for a peaceful and prosperous life in which they can enjoy the freedoms and rule of law that they were promised. That is not only in the interest of their city; it is in China\u2019s interest, too. Hong Kong\u2019s future is the main issue; but so, too, is China\u2019s honor and its standing in the world.<\/p>\n Chris Patten writes:\u00a0\u00a0 It is not wholly true to say that the eyes of the entire world are on Hong Kong. They would be, of course, if people in mainland China were allowed to know what is happening in their … Continue reading ![\"Hong](\"http:\/\/www.w-t-w.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Hong-Kong-300x216.jpg\")
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