Hong Kong

[rainbow]

Today, Chinese youth (15-24 years) have a 99% literacy rate.

...and according to a friend in Shanghai most of them know how to bypass the internet restrictions.

Wouldn't think that the Chinese government would have a hope if they decided to hack into its systems.

[JimC]

The money men start talking: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-19/ ... y/11426568

Hong Kong's property tycoons are hurting, the share market is tanking and the tourism sector has taken a beating as the pro-democracy movement continues to strangle the city.

As the protest movement enters its 11th week with no signs of slowing down, analysts are predicting the financial hub is barrelling towards recession.

China has sent a huge military convoy to the border with Hong Kong, but conspiracy theories, propaganda and Jackie Chan may prove the most potent weapons.
Now the city's ultra-rich are calling for the protests to end.

The net worth of the 10 wealthiest tycoons, who derive their fortune from Hong Kong-listed companies, has shed billions since the protests started in June, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire's Index.

[laklak]

I got lots of Freedum! I'll sell you some, cheap!

[Rum]

There seems to be a bit of an international blind spot about the communist behemoth that is China now.

The party rules everything and freedoms such as they are are limited. The idea of the sort of democracy as we understand it is linked inextricably in their psyche to capitalism.

The people in HK who think they might somehow get the politburo to make an exception and allow a tiny enclave of democracy is simply absurd.

[Sean Hayden]

They seem to be doing well without it, and better every day. If they continue, who knows where they'll be in 100 years, richer and more free than Europe?

[JimC]

They seem to be doing well without it, and better every day. If they continue, who knows where they'll be in 100 years, richer and more free than Europe?

Tell that to the Uighars...

[Rum]

There are literally dozens of small ethnic groups in China, most of which have been absorbed into the ‘Han’.

I’d be very surprised if one of their core policies is to suppress or absorb any ethnic group that deviates too much from the Han. China has always struggled with the complexities of governing such a huge and diverse country and they are paranoid about any threat to unity.