dda’s pick for assholic comment of the day.
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Who Stole from Whom?
This entry was written by Robert Koehler, posted on September 18, 2007 at 2:03 pm, filed under China, East and Central Asia, Stupid Foreigner Tricks. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.
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16 Comments
Was he talking about Hong Kong? (and if he was… wow) Or did I miss a massive Chinese troop movement into British territories this week?
Yeah, he was probably talking about Hong Kong. Although if I remember correctly it was more like the Brits “borrowed” Hong Kong for 100 years and then gave it back to the Chinese.
Yes, he was. This happened in Tung Chung’s post office.
And the relation between the Brits and HK is a bit more complex: they stole the island and the tip of the peninsula in 1842, then in 1898 got the New Territories — basically anything north of Mong Kok, more or less — as a “loan” for 99 years. When the time to hand over the New Territories approached, it became obvious that giving back only that part would be impractical, so the Chinese asked for everything. And they got a superb airport and trimmings, on top of everything else… While I don’t condone colonization [at least the political one], and find this remark by that obnoxious dude really really on the asshole side of things, I do find it’s a shame HK had to be handed over to the ChiComs, quite bigger assholes.
Wouldn’t it have been a hoot if the UK returned Hong Kong to Taiwan instead of the PDRC?
For five minutes, yes. After that, the PLA would have marched into HK anyway…
Let’s not jump to conclusions. Maybe it was Argentinean tape…
What’s an ‘obviously British’ person look like? Abdul the kebab shop owner from Birmingham, a taxi driver called Ravi from Leicester, or a drunken Glaswegian like Rab C. Nesbitt?
None of the above. Rather, a white dude decked out in short pants, slippers, a T-Shirt, an attitude that would tend to imply he owns the place — not anymore pal — and an unmistakable accent. One in a million like him, or so it seems. This is HK, not bloody Brixton.
Oh, that is priceless! I do believe I have met a few of his family menbers here in Korea!
dda,
You said, “That’s pretty thorough”–which he correctly understood as mockery.
Whatever the guy said wasn’t meant to be taken literally.
You should have understood his vitriolic reply as meaning, “Fuck off!”.
…vitriolic may be a bit strong of an adjective. His reply was a quip.
Colonialism is merely a stage of history in a particular bit of planet earth. Whether it is or was positive or negative (ergo, should be condemned or lauded) depends upon its effects and legacy on said territory. Whatever the originally mercenary goal of British policy in taking and holding Hong Kong, British rule did benefit Hong Kong. Its Chinese residents did enjoy a higher living standard than their mainland counterparts, and even managed to adopt the politically radical theory that the governed should be allowed some say in their affairs. Hong Kong was only “British” in name and political structure. Out in the street, and on its surrounding waters, it was always Chinese, if not always China.
Actually, he meant it literally. He wasn’t aggressive to me, even started a conversation with me — I wasn’t very forthcoming, though. He even greeted me the next time he saw me, while waiting for the shuttle bus — we happen to live in the same apartment block.
Moreover, the tone he used when outing this remark wasn’t vitriolic at all, rather his tone implied that I, as an fellow white, English-speaking dude, would of course agree with him…
You’re assuming the guy knew his Hong Kong history but made the remark anyway. Probably all he knew (or cared to know) was that HK had been formerly British territory and the Chinese made them give it back (because the UK couldn’t afford to fight a war to retain it).
Paul H. — whether he knew his History or had slept through the classes is irrelevant. As I said, I am not a big fan of the ChiComs, but they’re the current landlords, and HK is their land.