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    HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- Hong Kong has weathered much in the past 10 years: the Asian financial crisis, SARS, growing pollution woes and continuing questions about democracy. CNN is asking readers to weigh in on the Chinese city: how it met challenges since the 1997 British handover, and what challenges lie ahead. Below is a selection of their responses, some of which have been edited for length and clarity: July 1, 1997 was just another day on the calendar for most Hong Kongers. The British flag was lowered, and the Chinese flag was raised for the first time. After that, Hong Kong went about its business of being a financial power in Asia, and the citizens went about their day. Nothing seems to have changed politically. The government is being dictated by China, but economically the city has boomed. Ten years from now, Hong Kong will still remain a financial powerhouse of Asia and will bring China more into the International financial scene. As a resident of Hong Kong for over 40 years and experiencing both the current and previous administrations and after ten years since reunification ... I have not experienced any significant changes to my personal lifestyle. We still have rule of law, efficient police, fire services, medical facilities and, most importantly, freedom of speech. In fact, the services we have are second to none in this region, and the general quality of life for the majority of Hong Kong residents is very high as it has been since my arrival in Hong Kong in the early '60s. In my early twenties, I moved to Hong Kong right out of college and looked for a job. It was 1989, and there was an unbelievable air of excitement in the city ... As for now, I use Hong Kong's banking services. Most foreigners all over Asia use Hong Kong for that reason, as there is almost always a solution, and it does not matter if you are a resident or not. If you are there to do business, people want to work with you. Hong Kong's been through a lot since [the Handover]. I remember early 2003 when everyone was so worried about SARS. I hardly went out apart from going to work; that was the lowest point for Hong Kong I think during the past 10 years. I am just glad Hong Kong has gotten through that and is as vibrant and prosperous as usual! During the 10 years of China's administration, HK is more likely to be a city that is following the rest of the China -- in terms of policy, political influences and so on. And it seems that HK is losing its freedom bit by bit. We can see that from the right of speech, elections and more. All I want to say is that the loss of freedom and democracy make HK die ... HK people now have a strong preference on several things like democracy, environment, government's quality, social responsibility and kindness. I think it will be the future shape of HK. With our powers, we will influence the whole China which will be a better place than now. Everything is going backward, which is very strange. It's like HK is being transformed from a developed country backward to a developing country like mainland China. Freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of education, freedom of demonstration -- all being taken away little by little every day. I think Hong Kong is getting actually better after so many years. After all, we are all Chinese and we share the same cultural roots and we can never change this fact. In Chinese we have a saying that "the crow is always black." In my eyes, all politicians are the same, just like those crows. Talking about the democracy, Hong Kong people still don't have the universal election for the chief executive. Flatterers are supported by China's government. The future of Hong Kong is so gloomy under the rule of SAR [Special Administrative Region] government. My mother is from Hong Kong. After 10 years with Communist China, Hong Kong residents yearn for the good old days of Chris Patten, who loves our egg tarts. I think Hong Kong has been developing one of the top financial centers in the world with the support of the Central Government. After the SARS crisis outbreak in 2003, the Central Government immediately announced that mainland Chinese will be allowed to visit Hong Kong through the Individual Visit Scheme. This move really brought many opportunities to many industries in Hong Kong. Hong Kong in 10 years -- I feel it hasn't improved much. Hong Kong people can be lost in their way and their lives. For them, jobs and money are the most important things in their life, such that they want to work for money but not want to work to enjoy their life. Also, they can't see their future. It's really hard to find a job which I can show my skills, especially since I'm deaf. Lots of employers in Hong Kong worry about communication problems when I had interviews with them. China has done everything in its power to bury Hong Kong. Promoting Shanghai and Shenzhen as financial and shipping hubs has deflated the two major industries in the territory. The one thing that HK has in its advantage is the legal system ...the fact that property and financial laws are respected in Hong Kong, something that's not always true on the mainland. From an external perspective, we always wonder why people in Hong Kong accepted a non-democratic British colonial government, and then suddenly demanded democracy under the Chinese government. The current situation begs the question of whether the so-called pro-democracy movement is a result of foreign interference [which] does not wish to see a successful Hong Kong under Chinese rule. Sure, there are problems under Chinese rule, but there were problems under British rule. And let's face it, Hong Kong is nothing without the support of mainland China, whether Hong Kong gets full democracy or not. And the leaders in Beijing have bent over backwards to accommodate Hong Kong already. As a Hong Kong resident, born and raised locally, I am proud to call this my home. I have lived in and seen the likes of Hong Kong's rivals such as London, New York and perhaps recently, Singapore. But the people of this vibrant and rich cosmopolitan jungle will keep it buzzing and ahead of the pack for years to come. Well, I think [after] 10 years [Hong Kong] is still going pretty good and smooth. Hong Kong has a much better background and sense of democracy, this special administrative region, it is surely special for the Chinese government. But will it be more free in taking control of the both politics and social affairs of Hong-Kong in the future ? We will see. There are a few suggestions for my fellow residents in Hong Kong. I believe these suggestions will make Hong Kong a better place. I love you Hong Kong. I really do. |
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