Hang Lung Properties Chairman Ronnie Chan has written about the U.S. and China in two recent opinion pieces. In the November 15 Financial Times, Chan compares the American and Chinese views of freedom in “The West is in Danger of Frittering Away its Freedom.” Chan says there is too much freedom in the American economic and political realms, where “in the name of efficiency, western capital markets have gone wild as recent cries for more regulation attest,” and “in politics excessive freedom is making the U.S. government dysfunctional.” Chan praises Beijing’s gradual reforms and loosening up, writing, “Although still too restrictive, China is at least moving in the right direction of liberalization.” He concludes: “Both must make changes to prosper in the future. Both must recognize that to call one standard of liberty the universal value is hubris; and to impose it on others is to rob them of freedom.”
Chan discussed his worries about the future of China and the world with the Wall Street Journal on December 8. About the state of the Sino-American relationship, Chan was concerned that recent American moves, such as the opening to Myanmar, would cause China to feel isolated and encourage “elements in Chinese society that are suspicious of America.”
Bloomberg reported December 12 that Chan will join the 1,200-member election committee that will select Hong Kong’s Chief Executive when Donald Tsang steps down next year. A majority of the committee is elected by various sectors representing Hong Kong’s business, religious, and other communities, with others representing the Chinese and Hong Kong governments.
For more information about the Committee of 100's members, please visit www.committee100.org.
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