Is Puerto Rico Like Hong Kong?

Alex Lo wrote an opinion piece in the South China Morning Post suggesting that the U.S. government has no right to say China interferes with Hong Kong. Lo’s support for this position is a comparison of Hong Kong and Puerto Rico.

The comments about China’s relationship with Hong Kong came from the annual report of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. This report said, “In a trend that has worsened since last year, mainland China has sought to exercise greater control over Hong Kong despite Hong Kong citizens’ desire for more autonomy and democratic governance.”

Examples from the report:

The banning of six pro-independent candidates in recent elections

The abduction of five booksellers who sold books critical of mainland China

Pressure on freedom of speech and freedom of the press as well as academic freedom

Lo did not dispute these claims, but suggested that the United States behaves the same way toward Puerto Rico. “Beijing formally controls the foreign and military affairs of Hong Kong,” he said, “while we still run our own trade, currency, border control, government, tax, law, water, energy and much else.”

Read more: http://www.puertoricoreport.com/puerto-rico-like-hong-kong/#.WMCSMfKZmZY