China has betrayed Hong Kong so West should stop fooling itself, says former HK governor
Former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten on Saturday opined that China has betrayed the people of Hong Kong so the West should stop kowtowing to Beijing for an illusory great pot of gold.“The Hong Kong people have been betrayed by China,” Patten said adding that Britain has a “moral, economic and legal” duty to stand up for Hong Kong.Beijing is set to impose new national security legislation on Hong Kong after a sustained campaign of pro-democracy protests last year in the city, which enjoys many freedoms not allowed on mainland China.Patten, now 76, watched as the British flag was lowered over Hong Kong when the colony was handed back to China in 1997 after more than 150 years of British rule.Hong Kong’s autonomy was guaranteed for 50 years under the “one country, two systems” agreement pri