Hong Kong must protect its high degree of autonomy to ensure ‘one country, two systems’ remains effe

Article 39 of Hong Kong’s Basic Law specifies that residents of the administrative region have the right of self-determination. The people of Hong Kong must not fail to act when their rights are endangered. They should study the example of Switzerland, where the signatures of 50,000 citizens are sufficient to hold a referendum, meaning that public issues can be settled with a vote with no need to take to the streets. Otherwise, when the dictatorship becomes a reality, the people will have no choice but to resist. For details, see the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development.