General |
Posted by Terence
Dec
26
2006
Well, it’s that time of year again where I should wish everyone well for the festive season. So Happy Holidays, and have a Happy New Year too while you’re at it!
It’s been two weeks since my last post and a lot has happened : i’ve lost a post in between with a server crash, and a few days aftermath recovering. Work has been busy (as has been horsing around!), and on top there were preparations for a cooking show i’d been dragged onto for CCTV2.
I’m off to Hong Kong in a few days time, but meanwhile it’s a comparatively unfestive Christmas here in Beijing. It’s definitely catching on: I remember a few years before when you wouldn’t even see a tree… now the supermarkets are lined with decorations and trees for sale; the major malls and estates are full of lights; and the annoying Christmas carols slowly becoming ubiquitous. Still, it doesn’t compare to home but it definitely makes a change – and even though it’s a normal working day today, at least i’m spared the wrath of telemarketer calls from Hong Kong.
It’s a special day after all!
General |
Posted by Terence
Dec
10
2006
If 220,307 registered voters out of a population of 7 million to vote for an election committee of 800 out of 1,101 candidates (of which 237 will be returned uncontested) – who will then be responsible for ‘electing’ the next chief executive of Hong Kong can be hailed as a triumph for democracy, then I would really like to see Beijing’s reaction to the eventually-promised universal sufferage.
No doubt a simple system of direct election of the chief executive would be a massive defeat in democratic values if it returns the candidate whom the government dislikes the most. It would be a failure of public manipulation and propaganda if the incumbent government were to fail to get re-elected.
The current electoral system is a complete joke – and to praise it as “embodiments of democracy since both are contested elections” is just testament to the ignorance of the central government towards a democratic society.
Sure there are failures of most democratic systems, and each governing entity must draw up a system that best suits its subjects based on economical and cultural differences – but an election by 0.03% of the populace does not a democracy make, by any stretch of the english language.
The government is just buying time : when the chief executive and legislative are eventually fully elected Beijing would ensure that the pulleys are in place to do whatever they want anyway. By that point, it won’t even matter anymore. And that’s what concerns me the most: it’s not whether or not we get to elect our representatives now, it’s whether or not we can continue to pride ourselves in being a fair, relatively liberal, and open society that we have always been. When direct elections DO come I hope that the populace can be sensible enough to vote for who they really believe in, not who they are told to believe in.
I’m in Taipei at the moment for the weekend – enjoying the food and perfect temperature. It’s my first time here: this ‘province’ of China is much more developed than the rest of the mainland, traffic more orderly, it’s cleaner, and people appear to be much milder mannered towards each other. Taiwan is, afterall, an entity that is able to function entirely on its own. And with a higher GDP per capita, fully independant financial, defence, political, and judicial structure, it’s easy to understand why the issue of reunification is not that easy to resolve. Who wants to become a subordinate of a one-party state that suppresses political and expressive freedoms and harbours an insanely complicated financial system?
Well, quite simply, if it makes money then many would ask “who cares?”. That appears the sentiment here – China is as much an opportunity for the Taiwanese as it is for Hong Kongers, or indeed everyone else, and people are starting to take notice. Co-operation is improving between the two governments and indeed many Taiwanese businessmen now thrive on the mainland. (Note new year special direct flights still childishly go through Hong Kong air space).
But whether you believe in the ‘one China policy’ or not is a matter of opinion – one thing is almost certain though: until China develops to even close to the level of Taiwan (both politically and economically), I don’t see the Taiwanese giving up their freedom and livelihoods just yet.
