Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow the World: What China's Crackdown Reveals about Its Plans to End Freedom Everywhere

The book "Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow the World" is a gripping history of China's deteriorating relationship with Hong Kong and its implications for the rest of the world. It reveals how China has not kept its promise of autonomy and how dissenters could be treated in regions under superpower control. The book is written by Mark L. Clifford, who has witnessed the transformation firsthand and has unrivalled access to the city's society.

Format: Hardback
Length: 306 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2022
Publisher: The History Press Ltd

A gripping and comprehensive history of China's deteriorating relationship with Hong Kong, and its far-reaching implications for the world.

For the 150 years that Hong Kong was a British colony, a free flow of people, money, and technology occurred, while Hong Kong residents enjoyed freedoms that were unheard of in mainland China.

However, when the territory was handed over to China in 1997, the Communist Party promised that Hong Kong would maintain a high level of autonomy for fifty years.

Fast forward to the present day, and it is evident that China has not kept its word. Universal suffrage and free elections, which were promised as part of the handover agreement, have not been implemented, and activists have been unjustly jailed in large numbers following the enactment of a sweeping national security law by Beijing.

As China continues to expand its global influence, Hong Kong serves as a chilling preview of how dissenters may be treated in regions that fall under the emerging superpowers' control.

Mark L. Clifford, a Hong Kong resident from 1992 to 2021, has witnessed this transformation firsthand and has unparalleled access to the diverse society of the city. His book, Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow the World, is a powerful and dramatic blend of history and on-the-ground reporting, providing the definitive account of one of the most significant geopolitical standoffs of our time.

The book delves into the historical background of Hong Kong's relationship with China, tracing the city's development from a British colony to a semi-autonomous territory. Clifford highlights the unique cultural and economic characteristics that made Hong Kong a thriving hub for trade, finance, and innovation.

However, as China's economy grew and its political power increased, tensions between Hong Kong and Beijing began to rise. The Communist Party's desire to assert its control over the territory led to the introduction of policies that eroded Hong Kong's autonomy and freedoms.

Clifford provides a detailed account of the events leading up to the national security law, including the protests that erupted in 2019 and the subsequent crackdown by Chinese authorities. He also sheds light on the political and economic challenges that Hong Kong faces, including the city's high property prices, income inequality, and limited political representation.

The book also explores the implications of China's actions on Hong Kong for the rest of the world. Clifford argues that Hong Kong's status as a global financial center and a gateway to China is at risk, and that the city's freedoms and autonomy are crucial for the global economy and for the protection of human rights.

Furthermore, Clifford raises concerns about the potential for the national security law to be used as a tool to suppress dissent and suppress political opposition in other regions of China and beyond. He calls for international intervention to protect Hong Kong's freedoms and autonomy and to hold China accountable for its actions.

Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow the World is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex and evolving relationship between China and Hong Kong, and its implications for the world. Clifford's firsthand account and comprehensive analysis provide a valuable perspective on this critical geopolitical issue.

Weight: 664g
Dimension: 165 x 242 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780750999465