Not much ‘happiness’ on the streets of Hong Kong
Re: “Beijing fears unlimited freedom, but promotes happiness”, Have Your Say, June 12.
I trust that The Nation’s Sinophile-in-chief, Prasan Stianrapapongs, tuned into the news on the day his letter was published. If so he would have watched “a tiny segment of the population” protesting the loss of “some degree of freedom” in a hail of rubber bullets and tear gas on the streets of Hong Kong. In this case the “tiny segment” was represented by an estimated turnout of one million, and they were seeking “some degree of freedom” from a proposed extradition law that would see Hongkongers forcibly deported to China and put through the country’s state-controlled judicial system where torture is endemic. The law would legalise attempts to stifle opposing views in the ex-colony; up to now China has relied on kidnappings and enforced disappearances to subdue Hong Kong booksellers and other dissidents. It would be yet another breach of the 1997 Basic Law.
“I think it’s time I took a holiday,” concludes the writer. How about Hong Kong, Khun Prasan? Don’t forget to pack your “I love Xi Jinping” T-shirt, Teflon vest and gas mask.
Nigel Pike
Phang Nga
