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Bringing Western Depocrisy to Hong Kong

British Depocrisy and Freedom of Speech

In June 1997, the British Prime Minister apologised to Ireland and its people for an incident known as the Great Famine. With that sincerity which was to become his hallmark, Tony Blair told a concert audience of 15,000, in words read by the Irish actor Gabriel Byrne: “The famine was a defining event in the history of Ireland and Britain. It has left deep scars.” Mr Blair's words were welcomed by John Bruton, the Irish Prime Minister. "While the statement confronts the past honestly,” he said, “it does so in a way that heals for the future."

The Great Famine was an appalling atrocity which was largely the fault of Ireland’s English rulers, caused by a combination of their actions and their neglect. During the course of the famine more people died or fled the country than remain in Ireland today. The famine took place between the years of 1845 and 1852. Remember these dates. They are very important.

In November 2006 Mr Blair was again tramping the apology trail. This time the subject was slavery. While he stopped short of a full apology - perhaps understandably, given that Britain abolished slavery in 1807 and was instrumental in bringing it to an end in the rest of the West – he did offer his profound regrets that it had ever happened. “It is hard to believe that what would now be a crime against humanity was legal at the time,” he intoned. Remember these words. They are very important.

It was reported on Monday this week that a visit to China by a group of British parliamentarians had been cancelled, after China refused to grant a visa to one of the members of the group. Richard Graham MP had angered the Chinese by organising a debate in the British Parliament on the subject of the current pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong.

One might reasonably ask whether Mr Graham and his colleagues might not have been better employed discussing the pro-democracy protesters who were recently swept from the streets of London after only three days, and lamenting the fate of the dozen or so who will find themselves saddled with a criminal record as a result. One might reasonably ask what business it is of Mr Graham and his colleagues what is happening in Hong Kong.