From: DU@ANLCHM.BITNET
Subject:      Comments on Mak Hong Kon's mails.
Reply-To: DU@ANLCHM.BITNET
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 01:57:43 GMT

  MHK from Hong Kong gave a detailed account on Hong Kong's today and its
past. There is no doubt that he knows HK more than anyone who has not
lived there. But I do find that there are minor points that I feel should
be discussed. Hope this will not derail the discussions on the main focus:
Hong Kong's democracy process.


>From:  GATEWAY::"B118789@VAX.CSC.CUHK.HK" 20-NOV-1992 20:20:44.48
>Subj:  Bizarre Misrepresentations on CHINA-NT

>  If the Brits had not been here all along, then Hong Kong would
>probably be very similar today to Guangzhou, which is poor, dirty,
>crowded and rife with corruption.

       Is this the typical attitude by Hong Kong people
       toward Guangzhou and the whole mainland? Hard feelings
       always block one's fair judgment. Hope this will not
       happen to you.

       BTW, if the Brits have not been in Hong Kong, it may not
       exist at all, or maybe like ShenZhen 12 years ago, just a
       small village. Can't compare with Guangzhou.

> Opium is not something the Brits invented, but something that has
>a long history in Asian society. ........The British traded in opium
>at a time when there were no social constraints on the drug,

       Again, this is a typical British view on the Opium War.
       I believe most Chinese have somewhat different views.

>Opium is still used on Hong Kong, by the way, and the
>British have nothing to do with it: It's traded illegally, like
>any other illegal drug.

       How could this be an execuse for the unfair trade
       between the two countries 150 years ago? Not to say
       to be the execuse for invading a country simply because
       that country, I mean China, wanted to ban opium import?

>China has 20 million political prisoners. Each year more than 20,000
>people are executed by firing squad. Just next door to Hong Kong, in
>Guangzhou (or Canton), they are lined up by the dozens and shot in

>The figure is in "Laogai: The Chinese Gulag", by Hongda Harry Wu.
>Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado.

>News about public executions of prisoners in China for minor crimes
>is common in the daily press here in Hong Kong. I am surprised that
>Chinese people living abroad are unaware of this practice.

       I think what most people questioned was the word
       "political prisoners." I may believe there are
       20 million prisoners in China, even though it
       still sounds too high considering that's 5% of the
       population. But I will NEVER believe thare are 20
       million "political" prisoners in China.

       I never read Harry Wu's book and do not know how he came
       up with the number. Political prisoner has its clear
       definition, even in CCP's dictionary. Again, too much hard
       feelling may block one's fair judgement.

       I think every Chinese from mainland knows about the
       executions for minor crimes. I remembered clearly that
       in 1983, the year Deng Xiaoping called for a movement
       to crack heavyly on crimes, >40 were executed in one
       public rally of my city. One was accused for stealling
       bicycles with a group and got a share of 180 yuan. Things
       maybe better today, but not a whole lot.

>   I should add that it's not just a "British" problem. At present there
>are more Americans here (18,000) than Brits (12,000). The safety of
>American citizens and American assets would be assured by democracy
>as well, so the problem has international implications.

       I totally agree. It could be an international problem, but
       not simply because there are a few thousand Americans or
       westerners there.

       I should also point out that the current crisis in Hong
       Kong, if escalated, could also have impact to the rulers
       in Beijing. Don't think CCP is always united on everything.
       That's why we all should pay attention to it.

>Mak Hong Kon
Newsgroups: talk.politics.china