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No easy way forward for Hong Kong conundrum: Shanmugam

SINGAPORE — A Hong Kong at odds with China is “a problem for everyone”, including Singapore, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam has said as he expressed his worry that the ideological clash between Hong Kong protestors and Beijing presents no easy way forward, given the “deeply entrenched positions” of some protesters.

Mr K Shanmugam said that he does not believe that Singapore benefits from the Hong Kong crisis.

Mr K Shanmugam said that he does not believe that Singapore benefits from the Hong Kong crisis.

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SINGAPORE — A Hong Kong at odds with China is “a problem for everyone”, including Singapore, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam has said as he expressed his worry that the ideological clash between Hong Kong protestors and Beijing presents no easy way forward, given the “deeply entrenched positions” of some protesters.

Dismissing “superficial talk” that Singapore benefits from instability in Hong Kong, he said that the Chinese territory has deep strengths as a financial centre owing to its nearness to China, as he suggested how Hong Kong should proceed to find a workable solution.

These were Mr Shanmugam’s responses to Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post and Chinese broadsheet Lianhe Zaobao, which sought the minister’s views after weeks of increasingly violent protests plunged Hong Kong into its most serious political crisis for decades. A transcript of the interview was released on the Ministry of Law’s website on Sunday (Aug 11).

Rather than continuing to cause serious disruptions, demonstrating against China’s state symbols such as its crest and flag, or singing the United States’ national anthem, Hong Kong needs to recognise that it needs a “supportive China” to solve problems, said Mr Shanmugam.

“To go forward is going to need compromise and a clear approach that deals with the problem – not just political, but also the social-economic problem… The solutions need to work for both Hong Kong and China,” he said.

Elaborating on his rationale for suggesting the approach, Mr Shanmugam said: “Look, Hong Kong is part of China. Beijing will expect Hong Kong to adapt to the political structure that prevails in China. Adapt, not adopt.”

He continued: “Some of the protestors seem to think that China will allow a very different system in Hong Kong. That’s wishful thinking replacing reality. How will China’s leaders look at it?”

‘IDEOLOGY MUST SQUARE WITH REALITY’

The Chinese leaders could ask critics to look at all the different political systems in the world.

Mr Shanmugam said: “China’s system selects very competent, best people in government. Competent. And over 35 years, it has uplifted more than 500, 600 million people out of poverty. No country has done that in history, in 35 years. No country.”

He noted that “not enough credit” is given for China’s achievements.

“Is there a system, a political system that can do better for the people of China, compared to the current system? Which one? Name one? Whose system is better?” he asked.

“So ideology must square with reality. Ideology is important, but it must square with reality.”

Asked whether with the ongoing crisis, Hong Kong is paying a price on the damaged rule of law, Mr Shanmugam said that the territory has “very deep strengths” that will not go away overnight.

“Its financial system, its stock exchange, its valuable position as an outpost for China and the nearness to China are all incredible advantages that any investor will take into account and consider, and there is deep liquidity as well,” he said.

“And investors are savvy people. They will make assessments.”

SINGAPORE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO WEATHER SIMILAR SITUATION, SAYS MINISTER

Mr Shanmugam said that he does not believe that Singapore benefits from the Hong Kong crisis.

“We benefit from stability across the region, including Hong Kong. If China does well, Hong Kong does well, the region does well, we do well,” he said. “There is no profit in seeing instability. And if Hong Kong is at odds with China, it is a problem for everyone, including us.”

He pointed out that Hong Kong “has the huge advantage of China’s support”, while Singapore has “no one to support it”.

Mr Shanmugam said that there are a significant majority of Singaporeans who do think that “we are lucky” that the same things are not happening in Singapore.

“We are different from Hong Kong because we don’t have the same advantages that Hong Kong has,” he said. “Hong Kong can weather it. Singapore may not be able to weather it.”

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Hong Kong China Hong Kong protests K Shanmugam

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