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Taiwan's
model on July 01, 2004 Hong
Kong `no model for Taiwan' DISAPPOINTMENT:
All that the past seven years in Hong Kong has shown Taiwanese is that China
breaks its promises, a Cabinet spokesman said The Hong Kong model of
"one country, two systems" only shows how easily China reneges on its
pledges and it would be impossible to transplant the model to Taiwan, the
Cabinet said yesterday on the eve of the anniversary of Hong Kong's 1997
handover to China. "Beijing's repeated breaking of its promises has only led Taiwanese
people to believe that it doesn't mean what it says and that the model is
unacceptable," Cabinet Spokesman Chen Chi-mai said in a press release made
available yesterday afternoon. According to Chen, information gathered by the Mainland Affairs Council
showed that under Chinese rule over 157 incidents have taken place impinging on
the territory's freedom, human rights and rule of law as of this month. One of the most noteworthy was a ruling by China's most powerful
legislative body in April according to which Hong Kong citizens cannot
democratically choose a successor to unpopular Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa in
2007. Beijing also said Hong Kong will be allowed to directly elect only some,
and not all, its lawmakers in 2008. Another incident was last years attempt to pass anti-subversion legislation
which brought 500,000 people onto the street in protest on July 1. The Hong Kong government has proposed to enact Article 23 of the Basic Law,
which would prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against
the People's Republic of China or theft of state secrets. It would also ban
political organizations and groups in Hong Kong from having contact with similar
groups abroad. Beijing said that passage of the legislation is required under the
agreement that saw Hong Kong return to Chinese rule under the "one country,
two systems" formula. On the economic front, Chen said that Hong Kong's GDP per capita in 1997
was recorded at US$26,762 but had dwindled to US$23,027 last year. Its jobless rate also skyrocketed from 1997's 2.2 percent to 8.7 percent in
July last year. According to an opinion poll administered by the Cabinet's Research,
Development and Evaluation Commission in 1997, about 76 percent of the Taiwanese
people questioned said that they did not approve of Beijing's solving
cross-strait problems with the Hong Kong model of "one country, two
systems." The percentage had risen to 80.8 percent by April this year. The Mainland Affairs Council yesterday published a paper analyzing
political development in Hong Kong since its handover in 1997. China's actions have fueled Hong Kong people's doubts about whether Beijing
will abide by the "one country, two systems" formula which promised to
Hong Kong a "high degree" of autonomy. "Only freedom and democracy in Hong Kong can promote the region's
prosperity and economic development," the report said. The council, in a statement, said that Hong Kong played an important role
in keeping peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. "Our government will
carefully observe democratic development in Hong Kong and expand our service for
Taiwanese in Hong Kong," the statement said. additional
reporting by Melody Chen Ask
not for whom the bell tolls...
Last year over 500,000 protesters took to Hong Kong's streets on this date
to denounce the legislation based on Article 23 of the Basic Law. The action
focused the attention of the world on the erosion of Hong Kong's freedoms and
the delay in giving it accountable democratic government. The government's legislation of a controversial anti-subversion law, which
could have easily been used to cook up charges of treason against democracy
activists, was frustrated as a result of the demonstration. But less than a year
later, on April 26, China's National People's Congress dashed Hong Kong people's
hopes to directly elect their leader and lawmakers by 2007 and 2008,
respectively, basically trying to delay the democratic development of Hong Kong
forever. Economically, Hong Kong prospered mightily under British colonial rule.
Although it suffered from the global economic downturn and the outbreak of SARS
last year, its economy is recovering as the global economy grows this year. The
Hang Seng Bank also revised its forecasts on Hong Kong's GDP growth for this
year to 6 percent from 5.5 percent yesterday. Still, the halo surrounding Hong
Kong's economy has faded. The exotic cultural crossroads atmosphere of Hong
Kong's society has been replaced by Sinification. Hong Kong has lost its charm
to become another drab Chinese city. If this was the intention of Hong Kong's
nationalists, we can only congratulate them on their stunning success. Hong Kong and Taiwan have both been deeply influenced by ideas of free
trade, and over the last 50 years have also remained open to Western cultural
influences and are therefore international in outlook. We must give our
spiritual support to Hong Kong's demonstrators. Democracy has never been a gift
from heaven and has always been paid for in the blood and sweat of the people. On this anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China, the oppressive rule
they have endured over this period undermines the legitimacy of Beijing's
insistence on the "one China" principle. Hong Kong's example
reinforces the commitment of Taiwan to democracy, and the belief that the
achievement must be protected. Taiwanese can see quite clearly the bleak result
of putting faith in China's promises, which have been shown to be no more
substantial than the clouds. China has constantly sought to disparage Taiwan's democratic achievements,
emphasizing that democratic politics are merely another way of gaining power,
the aim of which is to declare independence. It has used this as a stick with
which to beat Hong Kong's pro-democracy activists. But democracy is a universal
value and Taiwan's democratic reforms are only a small part of a great
international current flowing in this direction. Alone our strength might be
insignificant, but we call on people all round the world to lend their voices in
support of the people of Hong Kong in their action to achieve democracy. Insight
can be gained from a look at history By
Hau Eng-pang The US State
Department's US-China Economic Security Review Commission recently recommended
that the US Congress and government re-assess their "one China"
policy. Given China and Taiwan's changing situations, the US should indeed review
the policy's viability. Also deserving review is the topic of how the US can
adjust its policy to support Taiwan's defense and how it can help the nation
break out of its international economic isolation resulting from China's
stranglehold. The US report notes that China's recent conduct toward Taiwan and Hong Kong
has prompted doubts concerning China's ability to find a peaceful resolution to
the Taiwan question and to deliver its promise of autonomy to Hong Kong. As
China's strength swells, its Asian neighbors are worried that the US' "war
on terror" might push the region out of the US' focus. In the 1970s, the tensions of the Cold War kept climbing and the UN's
General Assembly passed a resolution introduced by Albania on Oct. 25, 1971,
which declared "that the representative of the government of the People's
Republic of China [PRC] is the only lawful representative of China to the United
Nations." The PRC thus replaced the Republic of China, in the UN's eyes, as the sole
legitimate government of China. In addition, to improve ties with China in order to counterbalance the
Soviet Union, then US president Richard Nixon sent Henry Kissinger to secretly
visit China twice in 1971. In the following year, Nixon himself made a trip to
China and signed the Shanghai Communique, which stated that "the US
acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there
is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China." The US later re-affirmed this stance in the Communique Establishing US-PRC
Diplomatic Relations in January, 1979 and the US-PRC Joint Communique of Aug.
17, 1982. Yet in 1979 the US Congress also ratified the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA),
a legal basis for the US' military support of Taiwan to maintain the peace in
the Strait. The communiques and the TRA are products of Cold War ideology, and
as such were instituted as temporary measures. More than 30 years on, these
policies have failed to offer a resolution to the Taiwan question. If Taiwan remains internationally isolated, the tension in the Strait will
only escalate. China continues increasing its military power, having deployed
about 500 missiles that are aimed at the nation. If China invades Taiwan, the US will be forced into war with China -- or
will abandon Taiwan. Surely, the US does not want to have to make that choice
because any decision might destroy the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific
region. Taiwan's population of 23 million puts it 41st among the world's 192
countries. The nation's area -- 35,980km2 -- is somewhere between that of
Holland and Belgium. Taiwan's net per capita income reaches US$13,000 and puts
Taiwan 25th on the list of the world's most economically developed countries.
Also, Taiwan is a democratic country where human rights are protected. Why must
such a country be excluded from the international community? If Taiwan's sovereignty is recognized by the international community, use
of force against Taiwan will not be allowed and therefore the nation's security
will be ensured. Undeniably, the US' "one China" policy gives no regard to the
Taiwanese people's will. Now that Taiwan's government has received a fresh mandate through direct
elections, it is time for the US to change the "one China" policy and
give a hand to Taiwan to help it participate in international affairs. Hau
Eng-pang is the director of the Foundation of Modern Culture. The
skin graft that taught us love By
Cheng Jim-ming Let love be the driving
force for harmony. Let us cast prejudice and hatred aside. Let us emulate David
Landsborough and his son, transcending blood ties and geographic boundaries to
truly cherish Taiwan. In the spirit of altruism, Dr. David Landsborough Sr. and his Taiwan-born
son, David Jr. , dedicated themselves to helping Taiwan's poor and sick for 70
years. During his latest visit toTaiwan, Landsborough Jr. presided over the
opening ceremony for the reconstructed Changhua Church, which he founded.
Shortly after the event, Landsborough Jr. left Taiwan. But he also left behind
him prayers and blessings for the people on this land. After reading the story
of the Landsboroughs, I came to realize what love for Taiwan really means. Born in Scotland in 1870, Landsborough Sr. was assigned to the Prebysterian
Church's mission in Taiwan at the age of 25. One hundred and eight years ago,
Landsborough Sr. founded the Changhua Christian Hospital. His deeds remain a
shining example for medical practitioners, including the widely-read story A
Skin Graft Given with Love. He opened a new page in Taiwan's medical history
and set up a paradigm for the medical profession. A Skin Graft Given with Love tells the
story of Chou Chin-yao, a poor farm boy in Changhua in 1928. The 13 year-old
suffered from serious skin ulcers on his right knee and the wound festered
upward to his thigh. An amputation might be required to save Chou's life. In the
hope of avoiding this, Marjorie Landsborough volunteered to donate skin from her
thigh. Landsborough Sr. took the surgical knife himself and grafted four pieces
of skin from his wife's thigh onto Chou's. At the time, there was no precedent
for this procedure to which he could make reference. Although the surgery failed due to mutual exclusion between heterogeneous
bodies, Chou was on the mend. Later Chou even became a missionary under the
Landsborough couple's guidance. In Changhua, everyone knows the heartwarming
story. It is also an act of benevolence imprinted forever on the Chou family's
memory. Chou himself once said, "Though the piece of skin could not be
grafted onto my body, it is sewn in my heart." That was not the end of the Landsborough legacy in Taiwan. To continue in
the spirit of his father, Landsborough Jr. helped the Presbyterian Church in
Changhua hold the first-ever foot washing ceremony in November, 1997. At the
foot-washing, the superintendent of the Changhua Christian Hospital, Huang
Chao-sheng , stooped down to wash his employees' feet. They hoped this act would
stir a feeling, prompting the practitioners to serve in modesty to make up for
the inadequate medical technology they had. Landsborough Jr. himself was even more considerate to his patients. In
winter, he would warm the stethoscope with his hands before he examined patients
so that patients would not feel the instrument's coldness. Landsborough Jr. picked up where his father left off. After taking the job
of the superintendent of the Changhua Christian Hospital, he not only helped the
poor acquire medical care but also gave financial support to the needy children
for school. His selfless commitment also influenced his colleagues, who
displayed a philanthropic spirit. At the age of 28, Marjorie Amy Brooking caught
a tropical fever from her patients and died. On her tombstone was inscribed:
"Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go: Life That Shall Endless Be." If love could be fully integrated into life, it could be the driving force
for world peace. Love is casting away prejudice and hatred. Love is transcending blood ties and geographical boundaries as the
Landsboroughs exemplify. When receiving the Taiwanese American Society's Award
for Social Service, Landsborough Jr. expressed his sentiments by introducing
himself as "a British Taiwanese who grew up in Changhua." He sees his
responsibility in other people's need. Landsborough Jr. and his wife dedicated themselves to serving Taiwan for 28
years. During that time, he never recieved any paycheck from the Changhua
Christian Hospital. When he retired and returned to the UK, all he took with him
were two valises and deep affection for Taiwan. Although his homecoming is
brief, his valediction "to serve the people on this land with a humble
heart" has left us inspired. Landsborough Jr. grew up at the foot of Pa-Kua Mountain in Changhua County.
With a medical degree in neurology from the UK, he chose to dedicate his youth
to Taiwan, without regrets. The Landsborough family exemplifies the spirit of
philanthropy. President Chen Shui-bian dubbed Landsborough Jr. "a real son of
Taiwan." Indeed, the Landsboroughs contributed their youth, knowledge, blood and
even skin to the people in Taiwan. Their love for Taiwan is the true love worthy
of our respect. I savored every word of the Landsborough story. Between the lines is the
sparkle of humanity and Taiwan's vitality. Cheng
Jim-ming is a professor of journalism at the Graduate Institute of Journalism,
Chinese Culture University.
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