Author Archives

• An open letter to the Chinese Communist Party regarding the Hong Kong protests

  By wesmcl on October 2, 2014 • ( 7 )

  

  Recent events in Hong Kong present the Chinese Communist Party with an unprecedented opportunity to consolidate power in the territory. After the teargas used on the first night backfired, figuratively and at least once, literally, it’s time to reassess your options…. Read More ›

• China, Hong Kong and Cantonese: Dialect dialectic

  By wesmcl on July 10, 2014 • ( 1 )

  

  What I’ve learned from conversations with bloggers and others who are Chinese language speakers, and therefore have a stake in this, is that even thoughtful Chinese people have unwittingly accepted very authoritarian definitions of language and dialect: only officially recognised… Read More ›

• Do Hong Kongers speak a language?

  By wesmcl on July 8, 2014 • ( 3 )

  

  “Cantonese is just a dialect, it’s not a language.” I’ve heard this meme many times since coming to Hong Kong four years ago. They always say it as if it’s some sort of linguistic fact. My interest here is in… Read More ›

• An open letter to Chinese Communist Party regarding universal suffrage in Hong Kong (part I)

  By wesmcl on June 3, 2014 • ( 3 )

  

  Dear Chinese Communist Party, Since it seems clear that you intend to deny the will of the Hong Kong People, as well as international standards for universal suffrage, in the name of maintaining control over the nominating process for Chief Executive in… Read More ›

• An open letter to the Chinese Communist Party concerning press freedom in Hong Kong

  By wesmcl on March 26, 2014 • ( 16 )

  

  Dear Chinese Communist Party, I’m not one of those Americans who thinks the way we do things in ‘Murica is always better than the way others do them, but when it comes to propagandising and controlling its population…well…USA #1!. Comparing… Read More ›