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April 13, 2004

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China has finally settled on their latest tactic in the containment of Hong Kong: patronising paternalism:

The 20,000-strong protest march through Hong Kong at the weekend was disrespectful to Beijing, a mainland figure has claimed. Xu Chongde, one of the Basic Law drafters, said yesterday the march had soured relations between Beijing and Hong Kong after the goodwill visit by three mainland advisers last week.

"High-ranking Beijing officials had come to Hong Kong to have a dialogue with everybody, but thousands of people still took to the streets,'' he said. "Now you don't respect the central government, and refuse to take the words of the old man"...``I hope that Hong Kong people will not to be swayed by their momentary impulse ... the river water needn't interfere with the well water,'' he said.

It is getting harder and harder to take Beijing seriously in this. As I mentioned before they've now backed themselves into a serious corner. If they think ten thousand marching at a hastily organised Sunday event is bad, how are they going to cope with another 500,000 on July 1. I can't even vote and I'm going to march.

Anyway China's got bigger problems at the moment. For a "centrally planned" economy they're having a hell of a time containing the current economic bubble. Overly easy credit, over-investment outstripping demand, glowing press, bomming stock and property markets. It all looks awfully similar to the USA around 1999. At least the USA had some tools to deal with the problem. China's going to soon have a new national sport: white elephant hunting. It will take everyone's mind off the deflation they're going to be dealing with.

 posted by Simon on 04.13.04 at 09:42 AM in the




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Me! Me! I want to go elephant hunting..... Mind you I will only use a camera - I like elephants. When will the season open?

That was of course TIC (tongue in cheek)....

 posted by: Ozguru on 04.13.04 at 01:28 PM [permalink]

Happy Songkran! Today is the beginning of the Thai New Year. *brandishing my Songkran water gun to fend off all flames*

How is this relevant? Well everybody knows that all white elephants are the property of the Thai king, so if the Chinese start hunting white elephants, that may cause some friction with their Thai neighbors, especially Knights of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant.

As for Xu Chongde... is he taking on qualities reminiscent of the former Iraqi Information Minister? Like the ability to state the completely absurd while maintaining the appearance of complete sincerity?

 posted by: Tom on 04.13.04 at 03:57 PM [permalink]

Tom - I'd never thought of that, but it's a damn fine thought - the Thais could get mighty angry about it. Not that they don't have some white elephants of their own to hunt...

As for your comments on Comrade Xu, it is important to be able to spout drivel if you want to succeed in the CCP.

 posted by: Simon on 04.13.04 at 05:01 PM [permalink]

Well Comrade Xu is a step above the norm. Remember this is the man who complained that the protest of the month club (aka April 5 Action group) were anti-democratic for putting red x's over his face at one protest.

Of course the protest of the month club was over at the local CCP Intervention HQ the other day waving signs nominating Comrade Xu for the Absurd Comment of the Month Club. Personally I'm not sure whether that honour should belong to Xu, since he has strong competition from Comrade Raymond Wu.

 posted by: Tom on 04.16.04 at 10:45 AM [permalink]




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