Hong Kong was held as a British colony for more than 150 years before it returned to China in“The Handover”. It is seen as an international hub that connects mainland China to the West and differs from the mainland in two major ways.
First of all, whereas the mainland has a reputation of widespread corruption, Hong Kong is praised for actively fighting corruption. In “What Beijing Can Learn from Moscow”, Buruma mentions that the corruption in China is unpreventable given the unchecked power of a dominant party. The ranks of the Chinese Communist Party are filled with corrupt officials who have allowed for a “mafia economy” to develop. Hong Kong, on the other hand, has an effective anti-corruption institution. Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption, created while under British rule, was established to fight corruption in problem areas like the HK Police Force. Upon return to the mainland, the commission was written into the “Basic Law” to become a constitutionally sanctioned institution. The head of the commission is appointed by the State Council of the PRC, yet remains accountable only to the Chief Executive of the HK Special Administrative Region. It is independent from the civil service sector.
Secondly, whereas in civil society in the mainland is suppressed and economic development is prioritized over political freedom, Hong Kong already has a well-developed market economy and its citizens frequently participate in civil society. Hong Kong has been ranked by the Heritage Foundation as the #1 Freest Economy in the world for the past 14 years. Hong Kong’s constitution allows it to function under “one country, two systems”, referring to it being part of China but maintaining a separate, autonomous government. A clause in Basic Law indicates that universal suffrage is the ultimate goal for Hong Kong, and works towards the eventual direct election of the Chief Executive. This differs greatly from mainland China because even the government encourages democratic reform.
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