Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow the World

A gripping account of Hong Kong's deteriorating autonomy under Chinese rule, and its chilling implications for the rest of the world.
For 150 years as a British colony, Hong Kong flourished as a beacon of prosperity, with free-flowing capital, technology, and civil liberties. When the territory was handed over to China in 1997, Deng Xiaoping pledged that it would remain highly autonomous for fifty years under a "one country, two systems" model. However, as the halfway mark approaches in 2022, China has reneged on its promise.
Universal suffrage remains elusive, police brutality has become normalized, and activists face mass imprisonment. The imposition of a draconian national security law further erodes Hong Kong's freedoms. As China's global influence expands, Hong Kong's plight foreshadows the potential fate of dissent under the emerging superpower's control.
In Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow the World, long-time resident Mark L. Clifford chronicles the city's transformation from a site of peaceful protests to a place where police have fired over 10,000 rounds of tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition at civilians. As a prominent journalist, Clifford has unparalleled access to Hong Kong society, from student activists to senior officials. His powerful blend of historical context and frontline reporting provides the definitive account of this pivotal geopolitical standoff, with far-reaching consequences for the future of democracy worldwide.