China
Principles from Hong Kong + Aggression from Beijing + Escape from the city
Dear reader,
At the Berlin Foreign Policy Forum this week, the importance of greater independence for Germany from the People's Republic of China was once again a matter of intense debate. By contrast, Hong Kong's head of government declared the opposite to be the ideal solution: John Lee wants to incorporate his city even more deeply into Mainland China. The economy and administration should continue to converge, he emphasized in his first keynote speech in the office of Chief Executive. He wants to systematically pursue the dissolution of his city's special position.
Only when it comes to Covid has Hong Kong now taken a largely liberal path. After two years of strict regulations, there is hardly anything left of the panic about the spread of the disease – in stark contrast to the situation on the other side of the border.
Hong Kong apparently realized that it suffers more than any other metropolis from the loss of skilled workers and urgently needs to get its act together to avoid being left behind for good. Within two years, 140,000 people have left the city forever.
