gen ni zai yiqi (together with you, from the lyrics of a famous song beautifully performed by the late Teresa Teng). Ten years ago, today at midnight, Britain relinquished sovereignty over Hong Kong to China. Some had trembled at the mere prospect years in advance. Without the British, Hong Kong would be finished. The doomsday scenarios didn't happen. Hong Kong prospered thanks to closer relations with the mainland. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists spent their yuans in Hong Kong, bringing added prosperity.
The Chinese PLA came to Hong Kong, but left the censors behind. Press freedom and the freedom to protest was left unchanged. The one thing Hong Kong doesn't have yet is general elections for the chief executive and the legislative council. The government in Beijing is afraid it could lead to unrest and turmoil. The Chinese leaders shouldn't worry too much. They remain too much traumatized by the Cultural Revolution. A bit of turmoil and disorder and chaos is good, it brings progress. But in the end, let's not forget, Hong Kong didn't enjoy even a tiny scrap of democracy under British rule. Now that Hong Kong is part of China, the Big Democrats of the West are raising a hue and cry... Hypocrites!
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