Dispatches from the State Ministry of Truth

[The Brain]

One Country, Two Systems

Tried to watch that once.

[Zanza]

It doesn't say anywhere that it will end 2047, only that it won't end earlier.

[Sheilbh]

It doesn't say anywhere that it will end 2047, only that it won't end earlier.

It does. According to Wiki - 'the socialist system and policies shall not be practised in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the previous capitalist system and way of life shall remain unchanged for 50 years.'

It's in the Sino-British agreement on transfer too, not that that matters.

Of course if they were move to one country, one system I imagine that would make a lot of civil servants utterly redundant....

[Zanza]

Well, you are the native speaker, but to me that sentence doesn't say that on 1st January 2047 Hong Kong will just be another Chinese city. It does say however, that until 2046 it won't.

[Admiral Yi]

I'm with you Zanza.  It's an option, not a requirement.

[Sheilbh]

Well, you are the native speaker, but to me that sentence doesn't say that on 1st January 2047 Hong Kong will just be another Chinese city. It does say however, that until 2046 it won't.

Sorry I misread you, you're right.

Edit: My understanding is that the theory was that by then the two systems may have converged anyway. I wonder which direction people envisaged that happening?

[PJL]

Which begs the question, if the Chinese did attempt to move away from the One Country Two Systems in HK, would Britain as guarantor of the treaty do anything about it? IMO probably not, other than a strongly worded letter of protest to the Chinese embassy.

[The Brain]

Would nuke Alaska as a symbol of protest. At least I hope so.

[Zanza]

Edit: My understanding is that the theory was that by then the two systems may have converged anyway. I wonder which direction people envisaged that happening?

Deng was an authoritarian, so I am sure he envisaged an authoritarian regime like we have in China now. However, I doubt that he would have envisaged having lots of billionaires in positions of power and as part of the people's congress.

[Sheilbh]

Deng was an authoritarian, so I am sure he envisaged an authoritarian regime like we have in China now. However, I doubt that he would have envisaged having lots of billionaires in positions of power and as part of the people's congress.

I'm not sure. The corruption of the CCP and billionaires emerging were already things in the 80s and Deng didn't mind them. No doubt on the authoritarianism though.

I wonder what Thatcher expected.

Which begs the question, if the Chinese did attempt to move away from the One Country Two Systems in HK, would Britain as guarantor of the treaty do anything about it? IMO probably not, other than a strongly worded letter of protest to the Chinese embassy.

Been mentioned by Nick Clegg's twitter:
I sympathise a great deal with the brave pro-democracy demonstrators taking to the streets of Hong Kong. 1/3
The UK remains committed to the Joint Declaration and the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems'. 2/3
Universal suffrage must mean real choice for the people of Hong Kong and a proper stake in the 2017 election. 3/3

But it's tough to see what we could do. Although apparently the Chinese press are blaming it on British and American machinations. I never know if it's a good or a bad thing that countries like China and Iran still think we've got a lot of influence in the world

[Martinus]

Would nuke Alaska as a symbol of protest. At least I hope so.

but what about katmai? 

[Admiral Yi]

The UK could and would do nothing, aside from releasing a public statement of outrage.

[The Brain]

Would nuke Alaska as a symbol of protest. At least I hope so.

but what about katmai? 

Too quick?

[mongers]

.....
Been mentioned by Nick Clegg's twitter:
I sympathise a great deal with the brave pro-democracy demonstrators taking to the streets of Hong Kong. 1/3
The UK remains committed to the Joint Declaration and the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems'. 2/3
Universal suffrage must mean real choice for the people of Hong Kong and a proper stake in the 2017 election. 3/3

But it's tough to see what we could do. Although apparently the Chinese press are blaming it on British and American machinations. I never know if it's a good or a bad thing that countries like China and Iran still think we've got a lot of influence in the world

[A sizeable part of the HK population]

Thanks for jinxing that for us. 

[/A sizeable part of the HK population]

[Monoriu]

Well, you are the native speaker, but to me that sentence doesn't say that on 1st January 2047 Hong Kong will just be another Chinese city. It does say however, that until 2046 it won't.

All land deeds in HK only last until 2047, including the deed on my little flat.