Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Tightening grip: On Hong Kong-China relations

Tightening grip: On Hong Kong-China relations

China is hoping Hong Kong’s financial status will not be affected by its political situation

July 1, 2022 will mark (निशान, संकेत करना, सूचित करना) 25 years since Hong Kong’s return to China. Next year’s anniversary is imbued (permeate, inject, instill, inspire, inculcate (a feeling/quality)) with a special significance. It marks the halfway point in Deng Xiaoping’s 50-year guarantee, made in 1997, that Hong Kong’s “previous capitalist (पूँजीवादी, पूँजीवाद पर आधारित) system and way of life (जीवन शैली, रहन-सहन, सभ्यता) shall remain unchanged for 50 years”, a promise enshrined (प्रतिष्ठापित करना, संरक्षित करना, रक्षा करना) in the Basic Law (मूल नियम) under which Hong Kong is governed (नियंत्रण करना, नियमन, शासन करना). For much of the past 24 years, Hong Kong defied (अवहेलना करना, विरुद्ध जाना, उपेक्षा करना) wide expectations that the “one country, two systems” model would crumble shortly after the handover (सौंपना, हस्तांतरण, दे देना). On the contrary (इसके विपरीत), it thrived (विकसित होना, फलना-फूलना, उन्नति करना) as an unlikely (असंभाव, अविश्वसनीय) democratic enclave (area, region (enclosed within)) within an authoritarian (सत्तावादी, अधिकारवादी) state (राज्य, देश, सरकार), and as Asia’s financial centre, which global firms eyed (look at, see, observe, view, regard) as a gateway (doorway, entrance; a means of achieving something) to the China market. Recent developments, however, suggest the model is coming under unprecedented (not done or experienced before) stress (pressure, tension, strain). On December 23, construction crew quietly removed one of the most well-known statues, the “Pillar of Shame (Hong Kong’s famous Tiananmen Square ‘Pillar of Shame’ statue stood as a memorial to the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, in which the Chinese military crushed protests led by college students in Beijing with deadly force)”, standing on the campus of Hong Kong University since 1997. It was erected (create, establish, form/set up) after a commemoration that year of the June 4, 1989 crackdown (getting tough, severe/stern measures, restriction, suppression/repression, clampdown) at Tiananmen Square (the famous landmark gathering and protest by a large number of Chinese youth, that started on April 15, 1989 and was forcibly suppressed on June 4, 1989 at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. The popular national movement inspired by the Beijing protests is sometimes called the ’89 Democracy Movement. In this massive pro-democracy protest, many (in hundreds) were killed in a brutal clampdown by the communist authorities. It is commonly known as the June Fourth Incident). The annual Tiananmen vigil at Hong Kong’s Victoria Park itself became a symbol of the freedoms enjoyed in the SAR. This year, the park was cordoned off by the police and the anniversary went without commemoration (a ceremony in which a person or event is remembered). Last week, memorials to Tiananmen at three other universities were also removed.

A new national security law (a new national security law for Hong Kong that would prohibit “acts of political secession (separation from a federation), subversion (overthrow/undermining government), sedition (illegal rebellion against the government) that seriously threaten national security and foreign intervention”) passed (approve, vote for, accept, ratify, enact) by China last year has been cited (refer to, make reference to, mention, allude to, point to) as the reason for the actions. The law also led to Hong Kong’s most well-known pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily, ceasing (stop) publication. Meanwhile, the SAR government is revising the academic curriculum (syllabus, course of studies, subjects. (curricula is the plural form of the curriculum)) to promote patriotism (devoted love and support for country; nationalism, national loyalty) and dilute (diminish, reduce, decrease, lessen, (the value of something)) the emphasis (importance, significance; priority, insistence) on liberal (progressive, forward-thinking, broad-minded, reformist) values. The law, along with (together with, accompanying) a radical (thorough, complete, total, entire, utter, comprehensive, exhaustive, sweeping, far-reaching, wide-ranging, extensive, profound, drastic) overhaul (reorganization, restructuring, rearrangement) of Hong Kong’s electoral system earlier this year, undoubtedly marks the two biggest changes since the handover. The electoral reforms reduced the share of directly elected representatives (a person elected to speak and act in support of others (voters in a constituency)in a legislative assembly) in Hong Kong’s legislature (law-making body or governing body; parliament, congress, assembly) and introduced a new candidate review committee to ensure only “patriots (loyalist, nationalist, flag-waver)” can run for (stand for election as, stand as a candidate for, be a contender for) office. Pro-Beijing candidates swept the “patriots only” polls on December 19, which saw the lowest turnout (participation, attendance) of any polls since 1997, with many of the pro-democracy opposition figures either boycotting (avoid, shun, reject, refuse) the elections or unable to contest, a marked (noticeable, pronounced, distinct, striking, clear, glaring, blatant, obvious, palpable, considerable, significant, substantial, conspicuous, notable) change from the December 2019 district elections held shortly after months of protests that were swept by the Opposition. The changes reflect (indicate, show, display, demonstrate, disclose, reveal) Beijing’s sense of strength and perception (understanding, discernment, recognition/realization; interpretation) that it is no longer (not anymore) bound by commitments made 24 years ago. Chinese officials, betting on the access to the China market offered by Hong Kong, believe the lure (temptation, enticement, attraction) of commerce (trade, trading, buying and selling, business) will not dent Hong Kong’s financial status. That may well be true, but the impact of the changes is being felt elsewhere. Across the Taiwan Strait (a narrow sea passage (connecting two seas); channel, stretch of water), fewer and fewer people view the “one country, two systems” idea, once mooted (put forward, introduce, present) as a possible model for peaceful unification, as a future that they would want.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.tighten (verb)

Hindi Meaning - कसना, जकड़ना, दबाना
English Meaning - make stricter, make more rigorous, make more stringent, stiffen, toughen.

2.grip (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पकड़, नियंत्रण
English Meaning - control, stranglehold, domination (over something).

3.mark (verb)

Hindi Meaning - निशान, संकेत करना, सूचित करना
English Meaning - indicate, signify, represent, denote.

4.capitalist (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - पूँजीवादी, पूँजीवाद पर आधारित
English Meaning - relating to the principles of capitalism.

5.way of life (noun)

Hindi Meaning - जीवन शैली, रहन-सहन, सभ्यता
English Meaning - culture, civilization, society, lifestyle.

6.enshrine (verb)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतिष्ठापित करना, संरक्षित करना, रक्षा करना
English Meaning - to enclose in, preserve, treasure, protect (as valuable).

7.Basic Law (Hong Kong) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मूल नियम
English Meaning - The “one country, two systems” principle is enshrined in a document called the Basic Law - Hong Kong’s mini constitution. That came into effect on 1 July 1997, the day British rule ended and the territory was returned to China. That agreement is only valid for 50 years.

8.govern (verb)

Hindi Meaning - नियंत्रण करना, नियमन, शासन करना
English Meaning - regulate, control, rule.

9.defy (verb)

Hindi Meaning - अवहेलना करना, विरुद्ध जाना, उपेक्षा करना
English Meaning - go against, ignore, disregard, disobey; resist, take a stand against, confront.

10.handover (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सौंपना, हस्तांतरण, दे देना
English Meaning - changeover, conversion, transference.

11.on the contrary (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - इसके विपरीत
English Meaning - conversely.

12.thrive (verb)

Hindi Meaning - विकसित होना, फलना-फूलना, उन्नति करना
English Meaning - flourish, prosper, grow vigorously, develop well, burgeon.

13.unlikely (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - असंभाव, अविश्वसनीय
English Meaning - doubtful, implausible, improbable, questionable.

14.authoritarian (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - सत्तावादी, अधिकारवादी
English Meaning - oppressive, draconian, undemocratic, dictatorial, totalitarian.

15.state (noun)

Hindi Meaning - राज्य, देश, सरकार
English Meaning - country, government.

16.imbue (verb)

English Meaning - permeate, inject, instill, inspire, inculcate (a feeling/quality).

17.tighten your grip on something (phrase)

English Meaning - start to control something more strictly.

18.capitalism (noun)

English Meaning - an economic system based on private ownership; private enterprise, private ownership.

19.one country two systems policy (noun)

English Meaning - the One Country Two Systems policy was originally proposed by Chinese communist leader Deng Xiaoping shortly after he took the reins of the country in the late 1970s. Deng’s plan was to unify China and Taiwan under the One Country Two Systems policy. He promised high autonomy to Taiwan. Under Deng’s plan, the Taiwan could follow Chinese capitalist economic system, run separate administration and keep its own army but under Chinese sovereignty.

20.crumble (verb)

English Meaning - collapse, fall down, disintegrate, fall apart, break down.

21.enclave (noun)

English Meaning - area, region (enclosed within).

22.eye (verb)

English Meaning - look at, see, observe, view, regard.

23.gateway (noun)

English Meaning - doorway, entrance; a means of achieving something.

24.come under (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - be subjected to.

25.unprecedented (adjective)

English Meaning - not done or experienced before.

26.stress (noun)

English Meaning - pressure, tension, strain.

27.Pillar of Shame (noun phrase)

English Meaning - Hong Kong’s famous Tiananmen Square ‘Pillar of Shame’ statue stood as a memorial to the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, in which the Chinese military crushed protests led by college students in Beijing with deadly force.

28.erect (verb)

English Meaning - create, establish, form/set up.

29.commemoration (noun)

English Meaning - a ceremony in which a person or event is remembered.

30.crackdown (noun)

English Meaning - getting tough, severe/stern measures, restriction, suppression/repression, clampdown.

31.Tiananmen Square (Incident/Protest) (noun)

English Meaning - the famous landmark gathering and protest by a large number of Chinese youth, that started on April 15, 1989 and was forcibly suppressed on June 4, 1989 at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. The popular national movement inspired by the Beijing protests is sometimes called the ’89 Democracy Movement. In this massive pro-democracy protest, many (in hundreds) were killed in a brutal clampdown by the communist authorities. It is commonly known as the June Fourth Incident.

32.vigil (noun)

English Meaning - vigilance, close watch, monitoring, policing, surveillance.

33.Special Administrative Region (SAR) (noun)

English Meaning - a region in China that has a high level of autonomy. There are two SAR’s in China, Hong Kong and Macau.

34.cordon off (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - close off, separate off, isolate, segregate.

35.National Security Law (for Hong Kong) (noun)

English Meaning - a new national security law for Hong Kong that would prohibit “acts of political secession (separation from a federation), subversion (overthrow/undermining government), sedition (illegal rebellion against the government) that seriously threaten national security and foreign intervention”.

36.pass (verb)

English Meaning - approve, vote for, accept, ratify, enact.

37.cite (verb)

English Meaning - refer to, make reference to, mention, allude to, point to.

38.lead to (verb)

English Meaning - result in, cause, bring on.

39.pro- (prefix)

English Meaning - supporting.

40.cease (verb)

English Meaning - stop.

41.curriculum (noun)

English Meaning - syllabus, course of studies, subjects. (curricula is the plural form of the curriculum).

42.promote (verb)

English Meaning - encourage, further, foster, boost.

43.patriotism (noun)

English Meaning - devoted love and support for country; nationalism, national loyalty.

44.dilute (verb)

English Meaning - diminish, reduce, decrease, lessen, (the value of something).

45.emphasis (noun)

English Meaning - importance, significance; priority, insistence.

46.liberal (adjective)

English Meaning - progressive, forward-thinking, broad-minded, reformist.

47.along with (phrase)

English Meaning - together with, accompanying.

48.radical (adjective)

English Meaning - thorough, complete, total, entire, utter, comprehensive, exhaustive, sweeping, far-reaching, wide-ranging, extensive, profound, drastic.

49.overhaul (noun)

English Meaning - reorganization, restructuring, rearrangement.

50.representative government/representative democracy (noun)

English Meaning - a government where citizens elect people to represent them and make laws on their behalf, instead of always voting directly on laws and other government actions.

51.representative (noun)

English Meaning - a person elected to speak and act in support of others (voters in a constituency)in a legislative assembly.

52.legislature (noun)

English Meaning - law-making body or governing body; parliament, congress, assembly.

53.Candidate Eligibility Review Committee (Hong Kong)(noun)

English Meaning - It is set up to review and confirm the eligibility of candidates contesting in an election for Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (LegCo).

54.patriot (noun)

English Meaning - loyalist, nationalist, flag-waver.

55.run for (verb)

English Meaning - stand for election as, stand as a candidate for, be a contender for.

56.swept past participle of sweep (verb)

English Meaning - to win a contest completely.

57.turnout (noun)

English Meaning - participation, attendance.

58.boycott (verb)

English Meaning - avoid, shun, reject, refuse.

59.marked (adjective)

English Meaning - noticeable, pronounced, distinct, striking, clear, glaring, blatant, obvious, palpable, considerable, significant, substantial, conspicuous, notable.

60.reflect (verb)

English Meaning - indicate, show, display, demonstrate, disclose, reveal.

61.perception (noun)

English Meaning - understanding, discernment, recognition/realization; interpretation.

62.no longer (phrase)

English Meaning - not anymore.

63.bound past and past participle of bind (verb)

English Meaning - constrain, restrict, confine, restrain.

64.bet on (verb)

English Meaning - stake, risk, chance.

65.lure (noun)

English Meaning - temptation, enticement, attraction.