Frankfurt Common News: Report on Hong Kong

Five years ago Hong Kong reverted back to Chinese control, albeit under a mutually agreed-to governance called “One Country, Two Systems.” The most important feature of this agreement was the guaranteed, continued existence of democracy and an independent judicial system managed along democratic traditions in this former Crown Colony of Hong Kong. The first part of the agreement had so far been successful, while at the same time one cannot overlook or ignore media hints that point toward an amelioration of viewpoints consistent with those expressed on the Chinese Mainland. The judicial system gave us a pertinent, sour foretaste that “annexation” to Chinese conditions is proceeding well.

One may think of Falun Gong what one must, but one thing is for sure – up until now not a single member of this group has stood up for any kind of violence. As we were told, Falun Gong members had supposedly attacked the police. That is the reason they were sentenced to pay monetary fines.[..] One cannot escape the strong impression that Hong Kong’s “independent” judicial system acted in ever more accelerating obedience to China. Perhaps people will soon speak of “Two Countries, One System.”