Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Governor Chris Patten's attempts to broaden the democratic base failed completely in so much as there will shortly be no popularly elected representation at all. They also caused a deterioration in Sino- British relations and encouraged Peking's latest, at times even paranoid, suspicions that somehow we scheme to extend British influence beyond 1997.
It is, however, unfair to call these reforms a gerrymander to "strengthen the electoral chances of the anti-Peking party". They were instead maladroit and ill-advised, as indeed is Mr Patten's description of Peking's appointment of an interim chamber for Honk Kong as "stomach turning". Former governors of Hong Kong, undemocratic by appointment and in practice, never spoke of the Chinese government in such undignified terms.
There is every sign that China will adhere to the "one country, two systems" principle originally announced by Deng Xiaoping. It is very much in China's interest to maintain a prosperous and stable Hong Kong and the bulk of the population accepts this. One thing is sure: outside attention will have little bearing on how China acts in her newly resumed territory.
IAN RAE
Drinkstone, Suffolk
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments