The Truth about Hong Kong, HK
Many people know Hong Kong as “China”. Many have heard about the Hong Kong protests. Why are the people of Hong Kong protesting? Why are they upset?
Let me start by saying, Hong Kong is a very special city. Hong Kongers are special people. China is a special country. Chinese are special people. Both places hold a special place in my heart.
Despite what I say here, please know that I love and care about each place separately and dearly, but that doesn’t make anything I say less true.
Hong Kong is not China.
Mainland China is on a completely differnt spectrum than Hong Kong.
Hong Kong was owned by the UK up until 1997. That is very recent compared to the amount of years the colony was under British rule. In 1997 Hong Kong was “given back” to the Chinese government. However, because of the completely different ways of life, Hong Kong and China are considered to be under the “one country, two systems” rule.
Many people across the globe do not see Hong Kong as separate from China. The people of Hong Kong ask that you recognize that they are not China.
Hong Kong and mainland China differencient in many ways:
-Government systems -Lifestyles -Currency -Language -Passports
Government Systems
Hong Kong was more of a democracy, while China is as we know, communist. Since HK was passed back to China in 1997, there have been many ongoing issues between these two systems.
Lifestyle
The lifestyle is quit different. People in Hong Kong are more open to outsiders. It is more international. Hong Kong has no internet sensorship (they have access to outside news and SNS). Hong Kong has is tradition, but there is also a very large modern way of living. China is very strict on sensorship. You can not even access Google.com, let alone Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, or Twitter... China has their own version of all of the SNS we know and love. Chinese people are also very big on tradition. They are all about sticking to their roots. First comes knowledge, power, wealth, marriage, then children. This is true for most nations in the world, but Chinese parents take it to another level. There are even arranged matchmaking events orchestrated by parents.
Hong Kong is more open in this way. There are people from all over the world living in this international metropolotan. Dreams are a reality in Hong Kong. In China, dreams are a mirage.
Language
The language is not just “Chinese”. In mainland China there are around 297 spoken languages alone. Mainland China’s official language is “mandarin”, while Hong Kong’s official language is “cantonese”. These use the same characters, but are spoken very differently. One can not understand the other.
Currency
Currency is differnt. Hong Kong dollars are artistic and beautiful, and also a different worth from mainland China’s yuan (RMB).
Passports
Hong Kongers and Chinese have separate passports. In fact, the citizens of mainland China need a VISA to cross in to Hong Kong!!! Up until ten years ago, it was very difficult for Chinese people to obtain easy entry in to Hong Kong.
You see, there are many factors to this situation. The people of Hong Kong want people to recognize they are not Chinese. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being Chinese. It is just their sense of identity. They are different and they want to be respected as such.
I have personally lived in Hong Kong and Mainland China. I have first hand experience to the relations of these two places. I know how they think of each other. I know their differences. I know their special aspects.
I hope you can learn to understand also.
Now, what is up with the most recent stir of protests?
Actually, the protests have been going on and off for many many years. Recently, we are noticing and hearing more because of our connections through social media. This protest has been the loudest. Why? Younger generations do not have as much fear as before. Perhaps this is because of the global connections we have through social networking.
There are no secrets when it comes to the internet. This is something mainland Chinese people do NOT have the freedom of, and what the Chinese government fears. In China, if you post anything or protest anything against the government, you mysteriously disapeer. Hong Kong’s youth, who grew up on western SNS, know this, and want their freedom to stay! They use social media as their greatest weapon, and are also aware of issues because of it.
These recent protests all started again because of an extradiction bill. The Chinese governement has been trying to move Hong Kong more into their communistic control. Hong Kong does not like this because they are suppose to have 50 years (from the UK handover) until a complete change from their democratic system. The extradiction bill allows the Chinese government to sort of control more of Hong Kong’s legal system. Meaning, Hong Kong people could be sent to China for criminal charges and punishment.
The people of Hong Kong do not feel this is fair because they are only halfway through that 50 year promise. They deserve to remain as a free democracy, for that is the point of the “one country, two system” rule.
The people of Hong Kong are known as Hong Kongers. Not Chinese.
I hope you can understand that Hong Kong is not China. They are not the same. I hope that one day you may also get to experience the very different beauties of these two nations.
As of October 23, 2019, a formal withdrawl of the extradition bill was completed. This fight was won, but there will be many more to come. Please continue to support and cheer on the individuals of Hong Kong to keep their city their own.
Photos and words by Jennifer Jarvie















