I think that what most surprises anybody who goes into politics from even a modestly cerebral background is the vulgarity of much of the cut and thrust of politics.

Chris Patten

Categorized in : Thinking Cutting Vulgarity Is

I think there has been a significant change in China, in Beijing, since Xi Jinping became president or dictator for life, complete with a personality cult which is extraordinary, i think the sad point is that Xi Jinping and his court have regarded Hong Kong and Hong Kong's freedoms as an existential problem for them because Hong Kong represents so much of what they don't like.

We should stop being fooled that somehow at the end of the all the kowtowing there's this great pot of gold waiting for us. It's always been an illusion, we keep on kidding ourselves that unless we do everything that China wants we will somehow miss out on great trading opportunities. It's drivel.

What we are seeing is a new Chinese dictatorship, the British government should make it clear that what we are seeing is a complete destruction of the Joint Declaration.

This decision will send yet another signal to the world that the Chinese Communist Party is intent on throttling decency and freedom in Hong Kong.