Hong Kong has played a central role in the two great stories of our era — the rise of China and the globalisation of the world economy. More than 30 years ago, China’s emergence as the workshop of the world began just across the border from Hong Kong, powered by the territory’s money, expertise and international connections. Today, Hong Kong continues to serve as a crucial gateway between China and the west.
But the world is now entering a post-globalisation era characterised by populist unrest and rising tensions between the US and China. And once again Hong Kong is central to the story.
For almost two months, the territory of 7.4m people has been hit by a wave of demonstrations. This began as a protest against a proposal to allow suspects to be extradited to mainland China. But it has now spiralled into broader complaints against police violence and demands for fully democratic elections.