A System Apart

Overview

An authoritative yet accessible look at the origin of Hong Kong's economic crunch

Since 1997, Hong Kong's economic growth rate has dropped sharply, inequality has increased, and corruption has found its way to the highest levels of government. These developments, Simon Cartledge argues, can be attributed to the city's "pro-business" constitution, which has held back change and led to the rise of an anti-establishment, localist opposition. A System Apart traces the interplay of Hong Kong's economy, society, politics, and relations with the rest of China over the last 20 years. It concludes that the city needs to remodel its political structure and make its government accountable to its citizens, as was promised when the UK returned the territory to China two decades ago

Reviews

"Has Hong Kong changed under two decades of Chinese rule? Not in the way pessimists predicted, Simon Cartledge demonstratesâ€â€Âit remains a place apart. Yet the post-handover political structure cares more about preserving wealth than fostering dynamism. Protecting vested interests has allowed cronyism to flourish. This more than anything explains people's frustration at Hong Kong's straitjacketed constitutional arrangements. A System Apart argues wisely for a new course for Hong Kong. It is a work of great concision and clarity. And it will fit in your back pocket." â€â€ÂDominic Ziegler, The Economist

Author Biography

Simon Cartledge is the founder of the Hong Kong-based publishing and research company Big Brains and a former Editor-in-Chief, Asia for the Economist Intelligence Unit. He has lived in Hong Kong for more than 25 years.