TR EMERITUS

By Michael Tan  Ten years ago, when I was at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology on a student exchange programme, I asked my Hong Kong friends whether they are facing an identity crisis following the return of Hong Kong into China's fold two years earlier in 1997. Most of them are ambivalent about China, but they all have a strong sense of belonging to Hong Kong though it is only a “Special Administrative Region” under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China. Hong Kong and Singapore are both crown colonies of the British empire. Singapore achieved independence in 1965 while Hong Kong remained a colony of Great Britain. Now, it is part of China proper. Though Hong Kong was never a state nor does the government care to promote a sense of patriotism through national education, Hong Kongers are fiercely patriotic. During those days at HKUST, the campus was a hotbed of political activism. Students debated for hours issues like universal suffrage for the island, complete self-government and its role in China itself. At that time, few Hong Kongers feel any inkling to China. They are strongly protective of their way of life, system of governance and individual rights, concepts which are utterly foreign to Singaporeans. Hong Kong is one of the freest economies in the world, but its people are politically aware, mature and intelligent. While they know Hong Kong can never achieve real independence, they still clamor for a democratic and representative form of government. This explains why when the former Chief Executive of Hong Kong Tung Chee-Hwa tried to introduce the Basic Law, over 500,000 Hong Kongers turned up in the streets the next day to protest. Though the seat of power lies in Beijing, no Chief Executive of Hong Kong will dare to ride roughshod over the people without incurring their wrath. Last week, I joined my Hong Kong friends in a four-kilometer charity walk to celebrate China's 60th National Day. 14,000 people from 110 groups walked from Victoria Park in Causeway Bay along the Island Eastern Corridor to Quarry Bay Park. The streets were lined with colorful banners and flags of Hong Kong SAR and China. People from all age groups, including whole families were seen walking holding hands together, donning the red colors of China's flag. There is a palatable spontaneous outpouring of pride, joy and elation. I asked my friends the same question again. This time, they said they are equally proud of being a Hong Konger and a Chinese at the same time. I have never quite celebrated National Day in this manner, definitely not in Singapore where it would mean a quick getaway to Malaysia. The Hong Kong government does not need to spend money to line the streets and roads with flags. It has no grassroots leaders to go knocking from door to door imploring residents to hang the national flag and yet the Hong Kongers decorate their flats and shops with the China and Hong Kong flags. There are no boring speeches by the leaders reminding the people of their contributions to the island. Hong Kong never experienced the same form of one-party state as Singapore. I wondered how many Singaporeans will dare to turn up in the streets and celebrate National Day if the restrictive laws are lifted up one day. We have been told time and time again by our leaders that mass assembly of this sort will lead to riots reminiscent of those in the 1960s. But the Hong Kongers have shown that it is possible to gather and protest peacefully without any major upheavals. There is at least one protest in the streets of Hong Kong every week. Two weeks ago, it was a protest organized by a group of social workers. A month ago, the minibond investors held a protest outside DBS bank. Despite being under communist rule, Hong Kongers enjoy more freedom than Singaporeans and it is precisely because of their strong sense of individualism that Singapore will never be able to compete with Hong Kong especially with China backing it. To the Hong Kongers, the government is just a necessary nuisance. They work hard for themselves and nobody else. Its leaders are merely servants of the people. No Hong Kong leader will ever dare to give themselves a pay rise or talk down to the people. Had the Hong Kong government lose even a cent from investments like Temasek and GIC, they will be forced to step down. Such is the low tolerance for lapses by public officials in Hong Kong. It is sad that 44 years after independence, our sense of identity and belonging are less than Hong Kong's, which is not even considered a country. The Hong Kongers are very materialistic and calculative people, but at the same time, they are conscious of their political rights as well. Singaporeans lag far behind them in this aspect. As I walked along the streets of Hong Kong during this festive season, I can't help feeling proud of being a Chinese too. This is a strange feeling which I had never felt during my 25 years in Singapore.   About the Author: Michael is currently working in Hong Kong as a financial analyst. He is still proud to be a Singaporean and he hopes that Singapore will become a free society like Hong Kong one day.            Read More →

From our correspondent with tip-off from reader Steve Well-known Australian Christian singer Roma Waterman urged Singapore Christians to step up evangelism during a performance at The City Church last Saturday. She quoted in the Christian Post as saying: "It is important that believers live with the perspective of eternity and share the Good News at the risk of offending some people rather than being polite to everyone and letting them go to hell." Her comments drew a strong rebuke from one of our readers, Steve, who complained to us: "I find it offensive that these foreigners who obviously have no respect for our multi-cultural and religious society are invited to speak in Singapore. To encourage offending people in the name of your own religion is definitely not a step towards greater harmony." During a recent “new media breakfast” at Kim Yan Church, Thio Li-Ann urged Christians to speak up and contribute actively to secular society. She argued that as a Christian, it is part of one’s religious call to articulate their views in public especially on contentious such as casinos, same-sex marriage, euthanasia and stem-cell research. Thio also warned that if Christians do not speak up, others who may hold conflicting views will speak up and forcefully occupy the secular public space, which in fact is what they have already done vociferously. In his recent National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong expressed his concerns about Singaporeans being more "religious" and urged all to mindful of the secular nature of our society. Related articles: 1. Singanews: A secular news site? 2. Timothy Seah’s experience at the new media breakfast  Read More →

By Cheong Wing Lee  Read More →