Hong Kong's large -scale protest movement has lasted for more than four months. Although Chief Executive Lin Zhengyue officially withdrawn the amendment to the fugitive regulations, it will inevitably continue.This is the law of the masses' protest movements, especially to protest against a government that is not recognized.At present, no one can predict what the ending will be, but it is clear that the alarm of the rule of law in Hong Kong has sounded.
The protest began in a peaceful way, and unexpectedly evolved into large -scale and lasting violence. In the middle of the reason, not to mention, the violent behavior on the TV screen is worth pondering.Those young people wearing helmets and anti -toxic masks are hit, smashed, and burned, and they despise the law, and to urban buildings and public facilities (glass doors and windows, automatic withdrawal machines, road signs landmarks, monitoring equipment, subway ticket gate, etc.Even the monument to the anti -Japanese heroes) The property of property is unscrupulous, as well as the means of use, strategy, and destruction of the bottom line of the civilized society.Hong Kong's original intention was not worthy.Under the black cover of black, there must be an unscrupulous person who is carnival, but the name of the thug must be the demonstration.The protest movement began to maintain the independence of Hong Kong's judicial independence is evolving into a funeral of the rule of law in Hong Kong.
The establishment of the rule of law in Hong Kong has become the core value and competitiveness of this city. It is a phenomenon of foreign transplantation and cannot be produced in the soil of Chinese culture.The British Empire, which is not sung, must maintain colonial rule under the world of religion, race, language, culture, and historical traditions. It has to rely on the rule of law and give the local society a considerable autonomy within the scope of the law.The colonial authorities are foreign, which is not directly related to the local political entanglement, and has a strong military police to maintain the dignity of the rule of law.Over time, the rule of law system that pro -business, ordering, and respect for personal rights has established prestige, bringing predictability to social life and economic development.Among the many colonial systems such as Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, the most developed in the economy is the former British colonies, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, etc.The good rule of law is a key factor.
Powering the rule of law must have the culture of rule of law
After Singapore's independence, the rule of law system established by the colonial authorities was more completely reserved.In order to maintain the authority and reputation of the rule of law, Singapore has even retained the final judgment of the British Privy Council in the non -political field.Li Guangyao, founding of Singapore, is a lawyer trained by Cambridge. He was praised by the British as the best British gentleman east of the Suez Canal. He knows the true meaning of the rule of law.Under his leadership, the rules of the rule of law left by the colonial authorities have been fully protected, and it has become an important foundation for Singapore's economy to take off and be able to stand in an undefeated place in the tide of globalization.At the same time, the rule of law in Hong Kong has also become the core value of Hong Kong and the institutional foundation of Hong Kong's core value and economic take -off.It can be said that the rule of law and the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit of Chinese have achieved the Shuangchengji in East Asian miracles.
The necessary condition for a sound rule of law system is independent justice, neutral law enforcement, governance in accordance with the law, and citizens to abide by the law, that is, there is a conscious culture of rule of law.After the return of Hong Kong, the situation is very different from Singapore.First of all, there are too many political interference.After Singapore's independence is a sovereign country, although Hong Kong's return is implemented, one country, two systems, Hong Kong people governs Hong Kong, and highly autonomous, but sovereignty is in the hands of a country with completely different social systems and great values.Explanation.This is like a sword hanging in the independence and integrity of the rule of law in Hong Kong. It can be said that the self -discipline of the central government is a prerequisite for ensuring the rule of law in Hong Kong.Since the return, the interests of the two places have become more and more close. Hong Kong has also been used by various forces of China and foreign countries to become the forefront base for their opposition and subverting Chinese activities.
Those who grow up in the mainland system, including leaders responsible for Hong Kong and Macao affairs, have different understanding of the rule of law.The pragmatism that the CCP has shown in legislation, justice and law enforcement has made Hong Kong people very jealous.This protest was called anti -repair examples by Chinese officials, but the slogan made by the Hong Kong people is counterfeit; the information in the middle is very clear, one is extremely distrust of the legal system in mainland China, and the other is the SAR government.Both trust.This political uncertainty has a great impact on Hong Kong's legislative fairness and judicial independence.
Secondly, in terms of law enforcement, the Hong Kong police completely lost neutrality in the eyes of protesters and became wicked, especially being regarded by young students as dead enemies.I watched a protest assembly in Hong Kong not long ago.Generally, after the assembly or parade is approved, the police will deploy police forces at the scheduled venue to maintain order, but there is no police officer at the rally scene on this day.During this period, the police car appeared once, and the police sat in the car without getting out of the car.The emergence of police cars immediately triggered people's anger. The audience shouted the slogan against the black police together. The police car drove away hard without staying.
These protesters are very young, and many of them are middle school students.Unlike the mob described in mainland media, these people are gentle, friendly, and reasonable.They were all covering big masks, and some also wearing helmets and anti -virus masks.This scene is probably unique in the history of the world.I specifically asked them, since it is a cause of justice, why do I still hide my face, as if I ca n’t see people?Based on their answers, they are a fear of words, fearing that the authorities will settle accounts after autumn.
Chinese face recognition technology is the world's number one, and the monitoring system is unparalleled. They are afraid of it. After all, they are facing the situation of individuals in the strong government machines and lack confidence in judicial justice.I asked them, what are the approved peaceful assemblies like today?A young man replied that they had also participated in the kind of violence on TV before, so they were afraid of being recognized.There can be a 10 -year sentence, he said.
Hong Kong's rule of law comprehensively returns to Chinese tradition
Now I have further understood the vulnerability of Hong Kong's rule of law mdash; mdash; the weakness of the concept of the rule of law in citizens and the lack of the culture of rule of law.It is not terrible to wear a mask to protect themselves. The terrible thing is that this self -protected mask has also become a permit for their violence and violations. It allows them to do what they know is illegal in the name of defending the rule of law.I pointed them to them when the tragedy of the rule of law in Hong Kong, they also agreed, but obviously had never considered this.Obviously, Hong Kong failed to cultivate citizens with awareness of the rule of law. The younger generation born after at least 1997 lacked the minimum awe of the law.The absence of this cultural foundation makes people feel that Hong Kong not only cannot become a model for China's rule of law, but is moving closer to the normal state of the mainland.
In the protest culture of mainland China, there is a big solution, a small noise, and no solution.It can be said that the benefits of many protesters under this strategy are not less than under the strict rule of law, or even more, but they lack the sense of security and predictability.Generally, Hong Kong people do not have such a bargaining consciousness and ability at all.They are used to simple and rude legal supremacy. The rule of law is the only authority they can rely on, so they are very sensitive to the erosion of the rule of law.
It is not understandable that under the cover of the mask, they did illegal things so unscrupulous. They did not consider damage to the rule of law in Hong Kong and destroyed the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.The rule of law in Hong Kong is returning to traditional Chinese traditions, and gradually returns to the mainland.It will also rise with the gradual improvement of the level of rule of law in the future, but its real danger is assimilated.CommunicatingCulture is probably the culprit.
But the advantage of the rule of law in Hong Kong is still worth saving.First of all, we must adhere to all the illegal acts in the protest movement, whether it is a demonstrator or the police to maintain the dignity of the law.The independent investigation agencies in the five major demands are reasonable, but it should not be unilaterally investigating the police. It should also include the violent behavior of investigating protesters.New consensus.
Secondly, there is no structural interest balance, and the balance of the law cannot be guaranteed; the mainland and Hong Kong must also reach a new consensus, using an agreement with a remembrance to make up for the defects of the basic law. For exampleIn exchange for the mainland's subverted base and the fugitives in exchange for the general election of Hong Kong under the sovereignty of China and other autonomy; compared with the mainland system, Hong Kong needs democracy.In addition, it is necessary to plan ahead to prepare for the basic system of Hong Kong after 50 years, so that it can be governed for a long time.
(The author is a senior researcher at the East Asia Institute of the National University of Singapore)
