Tiananmen Square Repeat Likely In Hong Kong?

[sandyRoe]

Could the Chinese Government allow any protesters to 'win'? If they got away with it in HK why not elsewhere?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-29405576

[Kromovaracun]

The Chinese government is extremely paranoid about public unrest, and has been for 20+ years. Their response to protest has always been unfettered brutality, and I can't see that changing. It's possible that a few months after this is done, they might make some policy changes on the quiet. But HK already has substantially 'devolved' powers, so I doubt they will go any further than they already have.

[Khandro]

Unfortunately, I think Kromo is right, the central government will fear a domino effect and will be as ruthless in HK as they have been in Tibet. I sympathise with the students, but they want change 'too quickly' which understandable because of HK's prior status.

[youngmafbog]

Well this is the consequence of communism.

And to think people in the UK want this !

To answer your question Sandy, no the Chinese Government will not allow them to win. One way or another they will be crushed, the ringleaders eventually (and silently) rooted out and imprisoned (or worse).

[ToraToraTora]

I think the chinese would have learn't a lot from the Tianamen Sq incident and will no doubt be more subtle. HK is already semi autonomous so I cannot see them getting any more out of central government. So yes I foresee more unrest but I don't think they'll be rolling the tanks out.

[Khandro]

Softly, softly, catchee monkey.

[lindapalmara]

I lived in Hong Kong for 5 years. Went out just after Margaret Thatcher had signed the Joint Declaration. There was a lot of nervousness over the next few years with the richer Chinese definitely planning to leave. I worked at a Chinese Shool teaching Englsh when Tiananman Square happened and when I went into work the net day everyone was crying. They were terrified that tanks would be rolling down the Tollo Highway in July 1997. I saw the British trying to put in place some form of democracy as the colony had been run by an apponted Governor until then and they produced a Basic Law document. I may say the British Rule ha been fair and just and the Chinese seemed to be happy with the status quo. The Chinese had promised to keep things as they were for 50 years. Hong Kong has always been a 'Laissez-faire' sort of place and the Chinese realised it would be foolish to kill the goose that laid the golden egg. Surprisingly the transfer seemed to go quite smoothly. I still have friends there and have been back and none of their fears have materialised, until now. I really dont know how this will end as the Chinese Cmmunists Party do not like backing down.