> HK was returned, freed from colonial rule, not invaded.

I'm sure that Hong Kongers see it that way ahahaha.

The UK treated Hong Kongers as second class citizens. They censored newspapers and history books, only allowing those which agreed with imperialist Britain.

They then suppressed any autonomy in Hong Kong for decades, installing a ruthless puppet government.

Whereas China opened up the country by letting Hong Kong citizens vote and thus auto-determine their future in a democratic way?

No, they're keeping the two systems in place. Opening up the country would destroy that.

> No, they're keeping the two systems in place. Opening up the country would destroy that.

Oh really? The two systems where a CCP chill was placed at the top of the power and where protests were violently repressed?

Talk about being "freed" of colonial rule.

They have been freed, they are reunited with China. Hong Kong still has a democracy only now that system is answerable to Beijing. Not hard to grasp.

> They have been freed, they are reunited with China.

Without the will of Hong Kong citizens. That's the reverse of freedom.

> Hong Kong still has a democracy

It's not. The CCP simply dictates what happens in Hong Kong.

> Not hard to grasp.

Hong Kong being under the dictatorial boot of China is indeed not very difficult to grasp.

Hong Kong is still a democracy. It is the will of Hong Kong citizens to be free from British imperialism.

> Hong Kong is still a democracy.

Without fair elections? I don't think so.

> It is the will of Hong Kong citizens to be free from British imperialism.

As decided where?

It's decided in Hong Kong. If you bothered to care about the opinion of Hong Kongers you might know that.

> It's decided in Hong Kong. If you bothered to care about the opinion of Hong Kongers you might know that.

Show me the referendum voting results then?

They didn't hold a referendum. Honestly if you're this ignorant on Hong Kong politics then I'm wasting my time.

I know there wasn't a referendum but I asked the question to show you that citizens didn't have their say in the matter.

So it isn't a democracy.