[Paul_Bogdanich]

This is a very difficult problem. Unlike Taiwan which is like Cuba is to the United States, except for Hong Kong Island proper, Hong Kong is attached to the Chinese mainland. It would be as if in 1850 the British seized the San Francisco peninsula north of San Mateo and then so generously negotiated to give it back over time starting in the year 2000 with special laws, it’s own government and what not. Basically British colonial meddling. I personally think the Chinese have been very patient on this. Way more so than the Americans would have been under similar circumstances but the fact is Hong Kong is Chinese not a British protectorate. Yet every article I read in the western press, including this one fails to mention that key fact. The problem with China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, etc is all those populations are fiercely nationalistic. These twenty something protest leaders say they are ready to die for their cause and that’s laudable I suppose but they had better have their wills in order because the mainland Chinese will be forced to accommodate their request if the inflexibly obstinate violent behavior continues. China simply can’t let Hong Kong remain a colonial possession. No way, no how.

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