'Pragmatism Could Offer Buffer Role For Hong Kong'

Civic Party chairman Alan Leong has said he sees signs that Hong Kong could resume its role as a buffer between China and the ‘free world’ given recent developments indicating that Beijing is adopting a pragmatic approach in dealing with its western rivals.

Speaking on RTHK’s 'Letter to Hong Kong', the barrister and former pan-democratic lawmaker cited recent reports that President Xi Jinping has been reaching out to American businesses and the new Joe Biden administration, as well as an agreement in principle between China and the European Union, as signs that both sides are “taking a pragmatic approach to the ongoing competition.”

He also said reports that Beijing’s liaison office here is planning to change half its staff to offer “new perspectives” is another positive sign.

“Given the now global political and economic situations, I am sure leaders of the free world on the one hand and China on the other will have the good sense of realizing that practically neither side could bring the present tug-of-war to a swift conclusion without itself paying an unaffordable hefty prices,” he said.

Leong said that Hong Kong’s success in the past was largely because it was a Chinese city that also had the core values and institutions of a liberal democracy, but wasn’t required to take one of the two sides.

Leaving Hong Kong to manage its own business, Leong said, resulted in a win-win scenario.

He said the apparent swing to pragmatism offers the possibility that the city can once again be an effective buffer between China and the west.

“I am cautiously optimistic that Hong Kong does have a role to play, which role we had played so well before events in recent years,” he said.

“Given the wisdom and goodwill of all concerned, I am sure we can work something out. The last thing we want to see is for Hong Kong to be caught between two stools and become a victim of unintended scorched earth strategies adopted by both sides.”

Leong said while it appears Hong Kong is at a “low point” of its historical cycle, he is confident that there's enough support in Hong Kong for freedom, human rights, and the rule of law to “keep the flame of hope alive and burning.”