China cannot ‘choke off’ Hong Kong’s democratic aspirations, says former governor Chris Patten
Patten says he is still hopeful Hongkongers will get democracy under Chinese rule, if change comes from within China
China cannot “choke off” Hong Kong’s aspiration to be more democratic, and that aspiration can still be realised if change comes from within China, according to the city’s last colonial governor.
Chris Patten, speaking to the Post on Wednesday, said he still believed Hongkongers would enjoy democracy in the future, under the Chinese sovereignty.
Patten, who ran the then British colony from 1992 to 1997, said Chinese officials over the years talked much about ‘one country two systems’. But he said he doubted they understood what it really means.
“It means to continue to develop Hong Kong’s freedom within the law,” he said. “And inevitably it means you can’t simply choke off Hong Kong’s aspiration and ambition to be more democratic.”
