| After a trip to Europe, visiting ruins of ancient | | | | build shipyards nearby, and each nation has |
| Rome and Greek antiques, I found myself at the | | | | learned how to be an exporter to America in |
| ancestral family estate in Buckingham Shire, | | | | force. And generally they have all incorporated |
| England. My distant cousin the Lord of the Manor | | | | from Greek antiques the democratic tradition of a |
| remarked to me that he found it fascinating that | | | | voice without fear and a vote for all. |
| I lived on the very edge of western civilization. | | | | So, in harmony, Japan and Korea rebuild in the |
| Any further steps and I would be speaking | | | | western model of Greek Democracy, and Hong |
| Chinese: we both laughed. But should we have? | | | | Kong stayed a colony ruled by London but |
| In the visits of my relative to America or Canada | | | | allowing free British Capitalism. America had forced |
| it was usually then on west to Hong Kong. Here | | | | Japan to embrace both democracy and western |
| as we all knew those who wanted a silk suit or | | | | capitalism. |
| expensive attire or diamonds, earrings, necklaces | | | | Korea and Taiwan embraced both, as have now |
| of exquisite design could be had at such a bargain | | | | most every nation in Asia. Democracy more |
| as could never be purchased anywhere else in the | | | | muted, but modified British rules of Adam Smith, |
| world. | | | | adapted through the eyes of America and now |
| We all of a certain age had known this, from our | | | | seen through the eyes of Asia. |
| richer friends who were off and over, showing | | | | If,as seems possible, this brings us all a little closer |
| off their wardrobe, a new suit or pair of shoes at | | | | to peace and good will and more understanding |
| a time. And we all would marvel. How could the | | | | between people everywhere, is. a good thing. |
| starving merchants of ragged Hong Kong in the | | | | Buddha and Jesus, so different, shared so much. |
| midst of abject poverty of China and all Asia all | | | | But mostly, people adorned their highest ruling |
| around create all these bargains? | | | | groups with rare examples of their special status. |
| We all shrugged and thought none too much of it: | | | | To have elegance was one thing, but did your |
| virtual free labor from nearby China, British hands | | | | mind also sparkle like Aristotle? |
| off capitalism being allowed free rein to their | | | | And even Aristotle only retired back to his village, |
| talents. And how they thrived. | | | | and did not go forth with Alexander to spread his |
| A small fishing port in a vast deep harbor in 1843 | | | | words of wisdom to the east. And to tease that |
| had become British Territory on a ninety nine | | | | famous fast route of a century ago when men |
| year lease, a west Pacific base was made ready | | | | could travel around the world in 80 days, we |
| for the ever moving British Navy, with occasional | | | | found it fascinating that it is taking so far more |
| need to limp to a home port for repairs whether | | | | than 800,000 days for democracy to not yet |
| by gunship or typhoon. | | | | become a reality in mighty China. |
| And so Hong Kong built up wooden structures of | | | | Although capitalism is doing so well that Chinese |
| blended Chinese and British designs, under British | | | | are buying back their heritage, even though they |
| rule and laws but with full rights for all. And | | | | still to take care to not criticize the government in |
| Chinese kept coming into this part of China that | | | | open society. But it is coming, Comrades, rest |
| was not China and you could get rich. | | | | assured. History has ways of lifting us farther |
| The brutal occupation by Japan during World War | | | | from our savage beast within to decent fair |
| Two caused misery and hardship for all. The end | | | | minded peoples. Descendants of the very same |
| of the war brought back the British and even | | | | Vikings who burst the skulls of European citizens |
| after the revolution and take over of mainland | | | | like melons now have the highest standards of |
| China by Communism, Hong Kong was wisely left | | | | self regard in the fairness of their laws and the |
| alone. | | | | respect of the world. |
| And this would become one of the most amazing | | | | So, Genghis Wong, show us how you manage this |
| transformations of a mighty nation and it following | | | | next leap to true civilization, and indeed you a |
| European theoretic of Communism until it became | | | | then deserve finally to enter the family of fully |
| this was the route to common ruin. China helped | | | | respected civilized nations of the modern world. All |
| hold off the west in Korea but in the decades | | | | with faults, all honestly working on them, and with |
| following great order was in process of change. | | | | hope for us all, finally working towards all |
| As of 1950 and the police action in Korea, | | | | shoulders to the wheel of a cleaner, fairer world, |
| America helped Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong | | | | lean here. |