PRC United Front strategy
Encyclopedia
The PRC United Front strategy is a series of coordinated efforts directed by the Communist Chinese Government
centralized in Beijing
to attain greater control over the city of Hong Kong
. To accomplish this aim, a number of different strategies have been used since the 1980s. Today the control is mostly done through manipulation of local elections.
's Liaison Office. Prior to revision of these policies, it was the Hong Kong branch of Xinhua News Agency
. The Communist Party of China
is the de facto
driving force behind this office. The stated goal of this office is to afford greater control by Beijing over the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
After Communist China
's Tiananmen Square Massacre
in 1989 , the strategy was changed. Because the working and peasant class far outnumber the appointed government elite, Policy makers in Beijing realized they could not afford to let democracy take root in the general populace. They decided to manipulate the minds of the 2 million workers and ordinary wage earners in Hong Kong. They explicitly target the leadership of Kaifong associations
, district boards and local municipal councils.
Up until the 1980s the Communist Chinese government
did not want to form its own pro-authoritarian political parties in Hong Kong as the pro-democracy camp
was clearly more popular.
strategy described as:
The front does not destroy democratic individuals (like Martin Lee
), because the political cost of doing so is too high. It basically keeps the opposing parties divided so they are weak and non-threatening. In this case, the opposing enemy is Hong Kong's democratic party
, because it represents the wishes of the people in a democratic society.
(LegCo) and local elections. Sometimes part of the party is listed as "independents" and run for elections. An example is Regina Ip
in the 2007 Hong Kong Island by-election
.
While the One country, two systems
separate Hong Kong
and Macau
from Beijing rule, it attempts to swing voters away from the democratic parties to keep them weak. An example is The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, which was installed to target middle to lower class
citizens in Hong Kong by gaining presence in the Hong Kong real estate market
.
Government of the People's Republic of China
All power within the government of the People's Republic of China is divided among three bodies: the People's Republic of China, State Council, and the People's Liberation Army . This article is concerned with the formal structure of the state, its departments and their responsibilities...
centralized in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
to attain greater control over the city of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. To accomplish this aim, a number of different strategies have been used since the 1980s. Today the control is mostly done through manipulation of local elections.
Head of strategy
Its public agency is the PRCPeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
's Liaison Office. Prior to revision of these policies, it was the Hong Kong branch of Xinhua News Agency
Xinhua News Agency
The Xinhua News Agency is the official press agency of the government of the People's Republic of China and the biggest center for collecting information and press conferences in the PRC. It is the largest news agency in the PRC, ahead of the China News Service...
. The Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
is the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
driving force behind this office. The stated goal of this office is to afford greater control by Beijing over the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
1980s
In the 1980s Beijing tried to control the territory by absorbing Hong Kong's business elite into the United Front system. The business members were designated as "delegates" and "advisers".After Communist China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
's Tiananmen Square Massacre
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
in 1989 , the strategy was changed. Because the working and peasant class far outnumber the appointed government elite, Policy makers in Beijing realized they could not afford to let democracy take root in the general populace. They decided to manipulate the minds of the 2 million workers and ordinary wage earners in Hong Kong. They explicitly target the leadership of Kaifong associations
Kaifong associations
Kaifong associations are traditional mutual aid organizations which emerged in Hong Kong in 1949. They were set up with the help of Secretariat for Chinese Affairs of the British colonial government. The main purpose was to provide low cost or free services in areas such as education and health...
, district boards and local municipal councils.
Up until the 1980s the Communist Chinese government
Government of the People's Republic of China
All power within the government of the People's Republic of China is divided among three bodies: the People's Republic of China, State Council, and the People's Liberation Army . This article is concerned with the formal structure of the state, its departments and their responsibilities...
did not want to form its own pro-authoritarian political parties in Hong Kong as the pro-democracy camp
Pro-democracy camp
Pro-democracy camp, pan-democracy camp or pan-democrats refer to the politicians and social activists in Hong Kong who support increased democracy and may work together in areas of common interest or by not fielding candidates against one another in elections.Democratic activists are usually...
was clearly more popular.
Maoist strategy
The group uses a Mao ZedongMao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
strategy described as:
The front does not destroy democratic individuals (like Martin Lee
Martin Lee
Martin Lee , QC, SC, JP, was the founding chairman of the Democratic Party in Hong Kong. He was a directly-elected Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Island geographical constituency...
), because the political cost of doing so is too high. It basically keeps the opposing parties divided so they are weak and non-threatening. In this case, the opposing enemy is Hong Kong's democratic party
Democratic Party (Hong Kong)
The Democratic Party is a pro-democracy political party in Hong Kong. It was established on 2 October 1994. The party is currently the second largest party in the Legislative Council, headed by Chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan and, following the November 2008 merger with the Frontier, had around 745...
, because it represents the wishes of the people in a democratic society.
2000s
The united front coordinates the nomination and campaigns in the Legislative CouncilLegislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
(LegCo) and local elections. Sometimes part of the party is listed as "independents" and run for elections. An example is Regina Ip
Regina Ip
Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, GBS JP is a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong , as well as the co-founder and current chairwoman of the New People's Party and Savantas Policy Institute....
in the 2007 Hong Kong Island by-election
Hong Kong Island by-election, 2007
The Hong Kong Island by-election, 2007 was precipitated by the death of the then chairman of the Pro-Beijing DAB, Ma Lik on 8 August 2007.It was the second by-election in a geographical constituency to be held since the transfer of sovereignty in 1997 and the largest remainder proportional...
.
While the One country, two systems
One country, two systems
"One country, two systems" is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping, then Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China , for the reunification of China during the early 1980s...
separate Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
from Beijing rule, it attempts to swing voters away from the democratic parties to keep them weak. An example is The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, which was installed to target middle to lower class
Demographics of Hong Kong
This article is about the demographic features of the population of Hong Kong, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population....
citizens in Hong Kong by gaining presence in the Hong Kong real estate market
Economy of Hong Kong
As one of the world's leading international financial centres, Hong Kong has a major capitalist service economy characterised by low taxation and free trade, and the currency, Hong Kong dollar, is the ninth most traded currency in the world. Hong Kong has remained as the world's freest economy,...
.
PRC allies
The front also rely on allies that have a grass root in Hong Kong's society. Some allies include:- Hong Kong Federation of Trade UnionsHong Kong Federation of Trade UnionsThe Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions is a pro-Beijing labour and political group in Hong Kong. It is the largest labour group in Hong Kong with over 341,000 members in 181 affiliates and 62 associated trade unions.-Policies:...
- New Territories Association of Societies (NTAS)
- Kowloon Federation of Associations
See also
- Politics of Hong KongPolitics of Hong KongPolitics of Hong Kong takes place in a framework of a political system dominated by its constitutional document, the Basic Law of Hong Kong, its own legislature, the Chief Executive as the head of government, and of a multi-party system...
- Hong Kong Island by-election, 2007Hong Kong Island by-election, 2007The Hong Kong Island by-election, 2007 was precipitated by the death of the then chairman of the Pro-Beijing DAB, Ma Lik on 8 August 2007.It was the second by-election in a geographical constituency to be held since the transfer of sovereignty in 1997 and the largest remainder proportional...