Hong Kong is a liberal, global financial hub agitating for full democracy, making it both an asset and a potentially dangerous precedent for China where people are becoming increasingly intolerant of rights abuses and curtailed freedoms.
More than 100,000 Hong Kong citizens later hit the streets in an annual mass July 1 protest, sending a defiant message to China's leader that the city cherishes its freedoms in the face of perceived Beijing meddling in its domestic affairs, and calling for unfettered democracy in 2017.
"Hong Kong's human rights record has backtracked," said one of the demonstrators, Theresa Cheng, a 20 year-old university student. "Freedom of speech is shrinking and reporters are facing more obstacles."
Other issues stoking citizen anger include an illegal construction scandal that has badly hit Leung's integrity and popularity, a yawning wealth gap, corruption and pollution - though Sunday's events were held under a sunny blue sky.
Nobody is going to go to war with China over Hong Kong's press freedom. That's why Britain gave Hong Kong back to China in the first place 15 years ago.
But I always think of Hong Kong as the canary in the coal mine for Taiwan. Chinese restraint in blotting out that spot of freedom on China's periphery would not exist, I don't think, if the Chinese didn't want to pressure Taiwan into joining the mainland on similar terms as Hong Kong. It would look bad to just crush Hong Kong aspirations for freedom and democracy. Taiwan might get the message that nothing better is in store for them if they cede sovereignty to Peking.
So I watch for Hong Kong news. The minute that China just goes full repression on Hong Kong might be a good time for Taiwan to practice mobilizing reserves and repelling an invasion.
Once the canary dies, Taiwan gets the shaft.
