Customer Reviews

East and West: China, Power, and the Future of Asia

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Last British Governor Chris Patten remains optimistic about Hong Kong's future in this book; as long, he argues as the high degree of personal freedom the Hong Kong Chinese enjoyed under British rule is respected by Peking; perhaps a tall order, given that most of Hong Kong's population is made up of millions of refugees who fled China for the safety of the British colony between the 1950s and the 1980s. Yet it is good to read again the old arguments for decency and fair play that I heard Patten make while I lived in Hong Kong in the 90s. Patten offers many examples of British law and Chinese hard work paying off in old Hong Kong. This book is "the best case scenario" argument for Hong Kong's future. It reminds me of the cool, rational responses Patten would give to the latest strident denunciation from Peking about "colonial oppression"; Patten was for awhile there practically the only voice that would patiently remind China that it was up to Peking to reassure all its millions of citizens who had fled, and perhaps it was time for Peking to reassure all those people it was about to take back. The only thing I feel Patten doesn't play up enough about Hong Kong (I assume to help Hong Kong save "face", so important in Chinese culture) is the fact that any of those refugees who arrived in Hong Kong with marketable skills and talents tended to emigrate further, to the First World, to begin new lives and new careers there; making those who were stuck behind all the more in need of reassurance from China. The book also contains a quite a few personal anecdotes (though not as many as one would wish) about Hong Kong life that allow readers to glimpse the rough underbelly that is so much apart of Hong Kong: my own memories were awoken by the anecdote of the rich Hong Kong Chinese property developers, gambling magnates, and shipping famlies who buy expensive wine but then mix it with fizzy lemonade; the lack of any good bookstores in Hong Kong; the seamy fact of all those Kowloon girlie bars the size of aircraft hangers so popular with Mainland business "coach parties." This is a subtle-polite way to get across that coarser side of Hong Kong that, again, Chinese notions of "Face" do not wish to be talked about when discussing "the Paris of the East."

The book also deftly flushes the old racist arguments of "Asian Values" put forward by Singapore's dictator, Harry Lee Kuan Yew, but a lot of the fire has already gone out of those since the collapse of the "Asian Tiger" economies back in 1997.

A good supliment to this book is Jan Morris's *Hong Kong,* which contains a moving, vivid description of the massive refugee migration which has put such an indelible stamp on the Hong Kong of today; Morris's book also contains a lot about the British, too, back to the earliest (if sordid!) days of mutual interest when British merchants would bring opium to the region and Cantonese merchants would distribute it throughout China, to the vast enrichment of both - a good example in a nutshell of the profitable-yet-roguish aspect of Hong Kong's character from day one.

Another good compliment to Patten's book is Paul Theroux's literary novel of the Handover, *Kowloon Tong,* a great read and a fine depiction of the Hong Kong of that time, highly evocative to expats who lived there but have moved on back to the West, you will find in it aspects and attitudes of Hong Kong people, both Westerners and Chinese that can still be seen today; so accurate it is banned on the Mainland!

Christopher Patten's sharp analysis based on his unique perspective is an interesting read for anyone interested in Hong Kong and China. The book certainly has moments where Patten as colonial leader or lifetime politician show through, but these only add to the rich quality of this intriguing book. Those who find it dull should stick to Crichton, Michener, and Koontz. For this with an interest in public policy, China, and an important historcal event this book is well worth th read. For a personal memoir check out Ting-Xing Ye's A Leaf in the Bitter Wind a well written book about a woman's famil history and incredible life experiences.

Written by Christopher Patten, the controversial last governor of Hong Kong under the British colonial rule, East and West is neither a book of memoir nor a hulking self-justification. Patten deftly draws on his experiences as Hong Kong Governor to formulate a number of arguments about Asia, about the conduct and implementation of economic policy, about the components of good governance, and about the relationship between political freedom and free economy.

Natives of Hong Kong would have to agree that Patten had struggled (wrestled with the Chinese leadership) in Beijing) to implement democratic institutions that would ensure Hong Kong's continued vitality and ability to prosper. On the verge of the 1997 handover which casted qualms for political and economic uncertainty in many Hong Kongers, Patten was in an awkward position where he was sandwiched between the Hong Kongers and the Chinese leadership. In several occasions (including this book), Patten stigmatizes the totalitarian system of the Chinese Communist system.

There had been incidences in which Hong Kongers accused Patten of betraying the colony and its 6 million occupants, of surrendering a free capitalist city to the ultimate Communist tyranny, with no negotiation and guarantee of human rights, freedom of speech, and autonomy. In the book, Patten draws on these sensitive issues and struggles to give his readers an up-close-and-personal look of the real Asia, not just Hong Kong, in all of its diversity.

Patten started penning the book back in 1996 and many of the events on which he has drawn in writing this book took place at a time when the Asian (Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong) economies seemed to be climbing like rockets. Stock markets triple-leaped and the number of millionaires tripled overnight. Patten regards what has happened in Asia, despite the recent setbacks, as on the whole exciting, unique, and vital for the region and the world.

Despite many Hong Kongers have dreaded the prospect of Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty (which has proven to be worrisome in the recent rally against the passage of Article 23: security and subversion law), Patten sanguinely asserts that the die-hard Chinese leadership, while intending to demonstrate the feasibility of co-existence of Leninism and capitalism, will succeed in preserving a free market and liberal democracy in Hong Kong. So the horses will keep racing, and people will go on dancing, as promised by Deng Xiao-ping. The former colony will propser and remains intact for at least 50 years under the one-country-two-system policy.

Patten further asserts that what has worked for the West has already succeeded in the East, that what took place in Asia (especially in Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan) in the last thirty years was not disparate to the industrialization of Europe and the United States, only the Asian "little dragons" had evolved so much faster. Finally, Patten provides a global picture of the future, in which free markets and liberal politics sustain one another and attribute to economy prosperity. East and West delivers a personal portrait of Asia and its economic prospect, and how the East and the West come together as a whole in unifying the ideals of policy and economic conduct. 4.0 stars.

This author's bloated, rambling prose made it hard to get through even a single chapter of this book. (The actual germane information could have been condensed to about 50 pages.)

Patten may have had a point to make if you have the patience to search for it.

Compare a book like this to Margaret Thatcher's "Statecraft," where each topic was dealt with succinctly and synopsized with bullet points at the end of each section.

The absolute most this book is worth is $1-- and then only as a textbook example of how a completely unfocused book reads.

The year 1997 was a milestone for the world-it marked the end of the colonial era as the British returned Hong Kong to China. The last British governor of Hong Kong, Christopher Patten, oversaw the five years preceding the handover, including the handover itself. This period was one of turbulence, falling on the heels of the Tiananmen Square massacre in June 1989. In his book, Patten defends his actions as governor and does deeper to reveal his philosophy of government, economics and so-called Asian values.

There is no hiding the adversarial relationship that Patten felt with the Chinese government. He squarely places the blame on Chinese. He felt during every negotiation was he was harangued and harassed by Chinese negotiators whose only goal appeared to be to drag negotiations out as long as possible in order to wear out the British. Patten felt harassed by his own government as well. He was accused of antagonizing China and was encouraged to be patient and show respect, and above all not to irritate the Chinese.

Patten's main sticking point with both the Chinese and British China experts was on the democratization of Hong Kong prior to the handover. One irony of history is the failure of the British to install a democratic government process into Hong Kong in during their decades of rule, only to rush the process prior to handover to Communist China. This was done largely to give the people a voice in their liberties and freedom in their self-determination before the big, bad Communists took over and began ordering the people of Hong Kong around. In reality, the British didn't run Hong Kong with a democratic form of government either. Britain ruled Hong Kong-and that's what it was rule, not a democratic process. This irony was not lost on the author who was critical of lack of democratic efforts, while at the same time, scathing to the totalitarian Chinese government's approach. Patten was in a position to introduce some form of democratic process to Hong Kong, and despite extreme difficulties, introduce it he did.

The whole democratization process and passage of Hong Kong's civil-liberties legislation in the years leading up to 1997 were rushed and imperfect. Again, the British rules Hong Kong for decades without these democratic processes and civil-liberties legislation in place, but felt compelled to put them all in place before China took over. Patten excuses the British ruling this way, while working in a near panic to make sure the Chinese were unable to. This double standard weakens Patten's otherwise excellent argument about good government, rule of law and market economics.

Patten is dismissive of "democratic politicians in Britain [who] find it more comfortable to deal with the aging bureaucrats of the Chinese Communist party than with other democratic politicians in Hong Kong" (p. 88). His view is that China's long history, huge population, and market potential overly dazzle Western China experts. China experts recommended the long view and patience in dealing with China, as it is a special case among nations. Patten takes a contrarian's view of China with a what have you done for me lately critique. He points out that while China once was an innovative great nation, it has not been so for several centuries. A billion people there may be, but many smaller countries purchase more from Great Britain than huge China does. He says Britain sells over nine times as much to Belgium and Luxembourg than it does to China, only 0.4 percent of Britain's exports go to China. Potential markets yes, but how long will they take to emerge? And can they emerge under a totalitarian government?

Democracy, or more specifically liberal democracy, is Patten's solution to bringing stability and prosperity to Asia in the twenty-first century. He says, "On every continent, societies that combine political economic liberty will more probably be successful, stable, and content than those that do not" (p. 154-155). Democracy is more than one person, one vote system of government. Liberal democracy must include three elements: a) democracy-one person, one vote, b) rule of law-all persons under the same law, and c) human rights-all persons treated humanly.

Rule of law is a particular problem in China and other parts of the developing world. Hong Kong and Singapore function well economically in part because the rule of law is firm. It is the key to fairness. Contracts are binding. No one, regardless of position, family or wealth gets an unfair advantage. Where rule of law is weak, corruption is strong. Lack of transparency breeds corruption.

Human rights are universal, Patten says, and China might agree, however, the question is who decides them? Patten takes on so-called Asian Values that limit the human rights of individuals in favor of larger society. He takes on Lee Kwan Yu and calls Asian Values a smokescreen for authoritarianism. He dismisses Asian unity on much of anything, and further dismisses Asian moral superiority to that of the West. All societies have problems that must be addressed. This can best be done through good government, rule of law and with civil liberties intact.

The twenty-first century will be neither an Asian one nor a Western one he says. Patten, writing after the International Monetary Crisis of 1997-1998, is positive on Asia. However, Asia's rebound is not guaranteed. China may or may not become to the pot-of-gold market many are trumpeting. He sees the determining factor to be the application of market economics and liberal democracy.

Patten's point of view is just that-a view from a point. He comes off as antagonistic with Communist Chinese as well as those such as Lee Kwan Yew who would excuse authoritarian behavior and lack of civil liberties as Asian Values. Understandably, as a British politician he preaches democracy and market economics. However, I question whether he would have instituted democratic processes in Hong Kong has there not been a pressing need to protect the people of Hong Kong from a certain totalitarian government.

Patten's view on Asia is one of equality with the rest of the world. He questions several myths about Asia. There was no Asian miracle. What real prosperity that remained after the Crisis was the result hard work, good government and market economics-not Asian superiority. Other countries have achieved the same results-and more. Therefore, Asian governments should be treated just as every other government in the world, with respect yet firmness.

Patten has a point here. I have noticed that those who have worked in Asia for a number of years and have nothing to profit from a mystical Asia, do not believe in the innate specialness of Asia. Those with more limited experience or something to sell are often wowed by Asia-its culture, growth and market potential. There is something to be learned from both groups I believe. We dare not dismiss Asia, nor should it put be on a pedestal.

Patten dismisses the mythology of the East that has been used so much in the current debate in foreign policy and gives an alternative based on common sense and the pursuit of decency for all -- East and West, that is.

As an ex-Hong Konger I found it to be an illuminating reiview of recent HK history. As a long-time Asian resident I found it a useful anti-dote both to the Asia boosters of recent years and the Asia doomsayers of today.

Chris Patten has seen and lived things which few other Westerners lived. As the last Governor of Her Britannic Majesty in the former British colony, Chris Patten has not just lived history, but made it. This book therefore comes as an indispensable tool for understanding the political, social and economic change of Hong Kong, China and Asia in the late twentieth century. It is extremely well-written, very long yet concise and pleasant to read, and filled with truly interesting and relevant information - for the expert and the casual reader alike. A wonderful reading for almost everyone.

Chris Patten's provocative ' East and West ' has neatly dispensed with the mythology of Asian values. This mist of neo - confucianism or benevolent dictatorship has beguiled Westerners enraptured by the 'miracle' of Asian growth, sucking in diplomats, academics and business people who are unable to separate their love of Asia from the harsh realities of day to day commercial and political life. Patten has exposed a concotion of obfuscation, corruption, nepotism and self-aggrandizement all too often ignored by Westerners. Aided by the recent collaspe of Asian economies built on stilts of opacity that would not pass muster in the West, Patten successfully argues that Asian values are rarely different from those in other parts of the world and that it is time business people applied the same set of standards to Indonesia, China and Malaysia as they would ordinarily do to Germany or Russia. ' East and West ' goes a long way toward balancing the scales of opinion that have all too often been weighted toward the economics of the 'Asian miracle' but which ignored greater structural failings inherent in any non-democratic society. Patten's own affection for the people of Hong Kong clearly illustrates his respect for Asia, but it is evident that he has closely studied the bamboo and not just walked through the forest. Patten's bugle call was preceded by the uprising in Indonesia and recent events in Malaysia suggest history is clearly on his side. The paradigm has shifted.

I went to Hong Kong and was so impressed that I picked up this book.

Admittedly it has only about two or three chapters on Hong Kong but a great deal about China and the future. In this sense I absorbed an enormous amount of well thought out material. Patten is obviously cautious about embracing everything Chinese in the context of the Communist Party there. This book would be loved by those who long for Chinese freedom and it makes some interesting predictions about what the future may hold.

The quotations in it from Confucius, and various Western great thinkers like Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill and Carl Popper were highly illuminating. Patten uses Chinese ideas to undermine the face saving rhetoric from the Communist party.

This is a well written, well thought out, monumental book from the last Governor of Hong Kong. I hope it helps Hong Kong to remain rich and free, the way Patten tried to make it as Governor.

Truly the last great British colony to go ...