<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
</head>
<body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class="">
<h1 class="headline" itemprop="headline" style="margin: 3px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-family: minion-pro-condensed, serif; font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; max-width: 570px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
<a href="https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/09/02/hong-kongs-enemy-within/" rel="bookmark" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" class=""><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
Hong Kong’s Enemy Within</a></h1>
<span class="post_author_intro" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 15px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">by</span><span style="color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-family: 'Source Sans Pro'; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""> </span><span class="post_author" itemprop="author" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-size: 15px; display: inline-block; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="https://www.counterpunch.org/author/thomas-hon-wing-polin/" rel="nofollow" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(30, 30, 30);" class="">THOMAS
HON WING POLIN</a></span><span style="color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-family: 'Source Sans Pro'; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""></span>
<div class="socialtwo" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; float: right; position: absolute; left: 610px; top: 135px; color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-family: 'Source Sans Pro'; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
<div class="left-social a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 a2a_default_style" data-a2a-icon-color="unset" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; display: inline-block; max-width: 40px; width: 160px !important; touch-action: manipulation; line-height: 32px;">
<a class="a2a_button_facebook" target="_blank" href="https://www.counterpunch.org/#facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 2px !important; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; float: left; line-height: 16px; cursor: pointer;"><span class="a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_facebook" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; background-repeat: repeat; display: block; overflow: hidden; height: 32px; line-height: 32px; width: 32px; border-radius: 4px; float: left; background-color: rgb(59, 89, 152);"><svg focusable="false" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 32 32"><path fill="#FFF" d="M17.78 27.5V17.008h3.522l.527-4.09h-4.05v-2.61c0-1.182.33-1.99 2.023-1.99h2.166V4.66c-.375-.05-1.66-.16-3.155-.16-3.123 0-5.26 1.905-5.26 5.405v3.016h-3.53v4.09h3.53V27.5h4.223z"></path></svg></span><span class="a2a_label" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); clip-path: polygon(0px 0px, 0px 0px, 0px 0px); overflow: hidden; height: 1px; width: 1px; position: absolute !important;">Facebook</span></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter" target="_blank" href="https://www.counterpunch.org/#twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 2px !important; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; float: left; line-height: 16px; cursor: pointer;"><span class="a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_twitter" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; background-repeat: repeat; display: block; overflow: hidden; height: 32px; line-height: 32px; width: 32px; border-radius: 4px; float: left; background-color: rgb(85, 172, 238);"><svg focusable="false" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 32 32"><path fill="#FFF" d="M28 8.557a9.913 9.913 0 0 1-2.828.775 4.93 4.93 0 0 0 2.166-2.725 9.738 9.738 0 0 1-3.13 1.194 4.92 4.92 0 0 0-3.593-1.55 4.924 4.924 0 0 0-4.794 6.049c-4.09-.21-7.72-2.17-10.15-5.15a4.942 4.942 0 0 0-.665 2.477c0 1.71.87 3.214 2.19 4.1a4.968 4.968 0 0 1-2.23-.616v.06c0 2.39 1.7 4.38 3.952 4.83-.414.115-.85.174-1.297.174-.318 0-.626-.03-.928-.086a4.935 4.935 0 0 0 4.6 3.42 9.893 9.893 0 0 1-6.114 2.107c-.398 0-.79-.023-1.175-.068a13.953 13.953 0 0 0 7.55 2.213c9.056 0 14.01-7.507 14.01-14.013 0-.213-.005-.426-.015-.637.96-.695 1.795-1.56 2.455-2.55z"></path></svg></span><span class="a2a_label" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); clip-path: polygon(0px 0px, 0px 0px, 0px 0px); overflow: hidden; height: 1px; width: 1px; position: absolute !important;">Twitter</span></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" target="_blank" href="https://www.counterpunch.org/#reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 2px !important; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; float: left; line-height: 16px; cursor: pointer;"><span class="a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_reddit" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; background-repeat: repeat; display: block; overflow: hidden; height: 32px; line-height: 32px; width: 32px; border-radius: 4px; float: left; background-color: rgb(255, 69, 0);"><svg focusable="false" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 32 32"><path d="M28.543 15.774a2.953 2.953 0 0 0-2.951-2.949 2.882 2.882 0 0 0-1.9.713 14.075 14.075 0 0 0-6.85-2.044l1.38-4.349 3.768.884a2.452 2.452 0 1 0 .24-1.176l-4.274-1a.6.6 0 0 0-.709.4l-1.659 5.224a14.314 14.314 0 0 0-7.316 2.029 2.908 2.908 0 0 0-1.872-.681 2.942 2.942 0 0 0-1.618 5.4 5.109 5.109 0 0 0-.062.765c0 4.158 5.037 7.541 11.229 7.541s11.22-3.383 11.22-7.541a5.2 5.2 0 0 0-.053-.706 2.963 2.963 0 0 0 1.427-2.51zm-18.008 1.88a1.753 1.753 0 0 1 1.73-1.74 1.73 1.73 0 0 1 1.709 1.74 1.709 1.709 0 0 1-1.709 1.711 1.733 1.733 0 0 1-1.73-1.711zm9.565 4.968a5.573 5.573 0 0 1-4.081 1.272h-.032a5.576 5.576 0 0 1-4.087-1.272.6.6 0 0 1 .844-.854 4.5 4.5 0 0 0 3.238.927h.032a4.5 4.5 0 0 0 3.237-.927.6.6 0 1 1 .844.854zm-.331-3.256a1.726 1.726 0 1 1 1.709-1.712 1.717 1.717 0 0 1-1.712 1.712z" fill="#fff"></path></svg></span><span class="a2a_label" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); clip-path: polygon(0px 0px, 0px 0px, 0px 0px); overflow: hidden; height: 1px; width: 1px; position: absolute !important;">Reddit</span></a><a class="a2a_button_email" target="_blank" href="https://www.counterpunch.org/#email" rel="nofollow noopener" style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 2px !important; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; float: left; line-height: 16px; cursor: pointer;"><span class="a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_email" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; background-repeat: repeat; display: block; overflow: hidden; height: 32px; line-height: 32px; width: 32px; border-radius: 4px; float: left; background-color: rgb(1, 102, 255);"><svg focusable="false" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 32 32"><path fill="#FFF" d="M26 21.25v-9s-9.1 6.35-9.984 6.68C15.144 18.616 6 12.25 6 12.25v9c0 1.25.266 1.5 1.5 1.5h17c1.266 0 1.5-.22 1.5-1.5zm-.015-10.765c0-.91-.265-1.235-1.485-1.235h-17c-1.255 0-1.5.39-1.5 1.3l.015.14s9.035 6.22 10 6.56c1.02-.395 9.985-6.7 9.985-6.7l-.015-.065z"></path></svg></span><span class="a2a_label" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); clip-path: polygon(0px 0px, 0px 0px, 0px 0px); overflow: hidden; height: 1px; width: 1px; position: absolute !important;">Email</span></a><a href="https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/09/02/hong-kongs-enemy-within/print/" rel="nofollow" title="Print This Post" class="print-icon" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 2px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; float: left; line-height: 16px; cursor: pointer;"><img src="https://uziiw38pmyg1ai60732c4011-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/dropzone/2017/09/atoa-print-icon.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;" class=""></a>
<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; clear: both;" class="">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="post_content" itemprop="articleBody" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-family: 'Source Sans Pro'; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
The bedrock of any nation is its government — the manifestation of its sovereignty and protector of its people. But what if the personal loyalties of a substantial portion of civil servants do not lie with the sovereign? Worse, what if these allegiances are
actually more to other powers — forces that are at odds with the sovereign and working to undermine its interests?</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
Naturally, such a situation would never be tolerated in any normal jurisdiction. Hong Kong, under One Country, Two Systems (OCTS), is not a normal jurisdiction. Its sovereign is China, but large swathes of the special administrative region’s power structure
are not only alienated from it, but also feel attached to the Western values and worldview of their former colonial masters. That’s because under OCTS, decolonization has been merely nominal.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
Under normal conditions, it would not be a problem if government officials maintained a strict, professional political neutrality, as they are required to do. But in times of extreme stress, like the present, the underlying tensions have burst forth with a
vengeance. As the US Empire unleashes a full-spectrum war against China and a color revolution against Hong Kong, the local government has itself become arguably the biggest obstacle in the SAR to a resolution favorable to the sovereign. Over the past two
months, it has been increasingly clear that many civil servants are actively or passively helping the very pro-”democracy” protesters and rioters that the administration is trying to curb.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
The sickness of Hong Kong’s 180,000-strong government starts at the top. The Carrie Lam administration remains flat on its back, after its knockout two months ago by the blackshirt shocktroops of local Beijing-haters and their Anglo-American allies. As the
democracy thugs rampage throughout Hong Kong, terrorizing ordinary folk, disrupting their lives and trashing the economy, all Lam has done is to keep turning the other cheek, offer “dialogue” with <span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: SSit; max-width: 560px;" class="">de
facto </span>terrorists and try to bribe them with cash handouts. That might have made some sense two months ago, but are laughable amid the hugely escalated violence today.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
Essentially, top officers of the Hong Kong SAR government are neocolonial civil servants more conditioned to following and executing orders than providing bold, visionary leadership. As a veteran Hong Kong observer says: “Our government is dysfunctional. The
top officers took decades to climb to where they are. Each is more concerned about retiring with a hefty pension than sticking their neck out, leaving a bad name in public … or with securing a final promotion. So don’t look for our government ‘leaders’ to
calm this perfect storm.”</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
The problem of neocolonials then extends to all major departments of the SAR administration. How serious is it? A preliminary estimate has been circulating online recently. It places the percentages of pro-”democracy,” anti-Beijing personnel at:</p>
<blockquote style="margin: 0px 0px 16px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 8px; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(136, 136, 136); border-left: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); max-width: 500px;" class="">
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
+ Legislators 40%</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
+ Judges 80% +</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
+ Department of Justice 50%</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
+ Medical & Health 30% +</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
+ Teachers 50% +</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
+ Education officials 70% +</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
+ Media (RTHK) 90%</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
+ Social welfare 95%</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
+ Environment & Public Health 50%</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
+ Customs 30%</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
+ Fire Services 20%</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
+ Police Nearly 20%</p>
</blockquote>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
If such figures are anywhere near the truth, they would help explain a phenomenon of fundamental importance: why Hong Kong, in the two decades since reunification with China, has drawn further away from its motherland rather than closer to it.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
Government leadership (or lack of it) directly impacts all aspects of life in Hong Kong. When the “Cockroach Revolution” is over, those in charge of a needed reform & rectification campaign to follow will have to do a proper, thorough job. Real decolonization
will be essential, if Hong Kong is to have a sound, constructive future as a genuine part of China.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
Well-placed mainland friends have started to talk about a “second return to the motherland” for Hong Kong. Both Beijing and Hong Kong got key parts of the first return wrong — quite disastrously, as present events are proving. They must not repeat the mistake.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 3px 20px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; max-width: 560px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class="">
<span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: SSit; max-width: 560px;" class="">The author is a veteran journalist based in Hong Kong. He contributes to 21SilkRd in Facebook.</span></p>
</div>
<div id="fb-link-page" class="text_box" style="margin: 0px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'Source Serif Pro', serif; color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CounterPunch-official-172470146144666/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(58, 87, 149); font-weight: 600; font-family: serif;" class="">Join the debate on Facebook</a></div>
<div class="post_nav" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-family: 'Source Sans Pro'; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div>
<div class="more-by-author" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-family: 'Source Sans Pro'; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
More articles by:<span class="post_author" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; display: inline-block;"><a href="https://www.counterpunch.org/author/thomas-hon-wing-polin/" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 1px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: rgb(30, 30, 30);" class="">THOMAS
HON WING POLIN</a></span></div>
</body>
</html>