Stephen Roach, don’t bet against Hong Kong people

IN 1897, WHEN THE New York Journal told Mark Twain, the humorist, of the rumor he was dying in poverty in London, he was amused. He replied, “The report of my death was an exaggeration,” hoping to nip the story in the bud. The same can also be said of anybody who predicts Hong…

March 5, 20240Comments ByGrenville Cross

Give Hong Kong judges flexibility in sentencing

While Hong Kong was still run by the British, the Basic Law was drawn up, which included an article numbered 23 - which was an acknowledgement that Hong Kong should not be deprived of the security laws that virtually all other places have to keep them safe. But some Hong Kong people were nervous,…

February 22, 20240Comments ByGrenville Cross

Features News Opinion

Here’s how to understand Hong Kong’s Article 23

Sedition is a serious offence in countries around the world, and was made a crime in Hong Kong by the British. But when the city makes any move to codify this principle, it's painted as an shocking outrage with vague insinuations about authoritarianism. Grenville Cross looks at the actual facts of the matter. THE OFFENCE…

February 16, 20240Comments ByGrenville Cross

Features

Comparison of Hong Kong and U.S. police shows stunning gulf

The shocking violence of the 2019 Hong Kong protests would have been met by armed military troops anywhere else on the planet, but the Chinese coastal city had only its police service to face it down. But now, as horrific new figures emerge about a new record high in the number of lethal casualties of…

January 17, 20230Comments ByGrenville Cross

Opinion

British judge: I serve the Hong Kong people

The problem for Hong Kong's critics is that our legal system works really well. One of the city's overseas judges, Britain’s Lord (Jonathan) Sumption, told the press the bald truth, saying “as a Hong Kong judge, I serve Hong Kong people”. He added: “I must be guided by their interests, and not by the wishes…

October 31, 20220Comments ByGrenville Cross

Opinion

Britain’s opium era strategy to deal with China

THE DAOGUANG EMPEROR tasked Commissioner Lin Zexu (image above) with suppressing the opium trade bedeviling China in 1839. Lin initially tried diplomacy. As British traders were growing the drug in India and then smuggling it into China, he hoped an appeal to their country’s sense of honor might be salutary. Before the outbreak…

September 14, 20220Comments ByGrenville Cross

Opinion

‘Rules-based order’ means U.S. supremacy, no more and no less

THE PHRASE “rule-based order” (RBO) is one of the most hackneyed in the West’s political lexicon, although “international” is increasingly included these days. It sounds good, can mean different things, and may be easily weaponized. It recalls Humpty Dumpty, who, in Lewis Carroll’sThrough the Looking-Glass, told Alice that “when I use a word, it means…

May 3, 20220Comments ByGrenville Cross

News

British judges departure a shame, but no surprise

There's a whole lobby of people in the UK working hard to harm Hong Kong and this is simply their latest move, writes Grenville Cross THAT LORD ROBERT REED and Lord Patrick Hodge have resigned from Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal is a great pity and a big loss but not a total…

March 31, 20220Comments ByGrenville Cross

Opinion

Urgent need for UK to return to positive China relationship

It may have been wise for the UK to part from the European Union for a more global stance But the country's long friendship with China has been unfortunately soured by US hawks and UK Sinophobes It’s crucial that Britain’s next task is to defy US orders and rebuild its relationship with the country…

February 17, 20220Comments ByGrenville Cross