Frank Ching

Long before Hong Kong's scheduled July 1 reversion to China, the American media decided that the place was in grave danger, if not beyond salvation. The American doomsayers overlook that Hong Kong's borders, currency, and international memberships will remain intact. And although some civil liberties may be rolled back, an objective examination of China's behavior during the transition suggests that changes will be narrow rather than sweeping. Claims that post-1997 Hong Kong will cease to be the crossroads between East and West are alarmist.