The Middle Kingdom
Fifteen years have passed since the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland handed over control of Hong Kong, Kowloon, & the New Territories (for our purposes, it's all "Hong Kong") to the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.), creating the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (S.A.R.). Under the "one country, two systems" model, the denizens of Hong Kong enjoy a greater level of political & economic freedom than any other citizens of the P.R.C. (except possibly those of the neighboring Macau Special Administrative Region, which also functions under "one country, two systems"). Nevertheless, Hong Kong is less free than it was under British colonial rule, & it appears that some in H.K. are none too pleased about Beijing's bullying & cronyism: Hong Kong-link. Ever suspicious of Red China, I've been surprised that the P.R.C. hasn't been more heavy-handed in its treatment of the S.A.R., both Hong Kong & Macau. The people there lead a precarious existence, never sure when Beijing might assert itself more forcefully, but for all that it's better to be in a S.A.R. than anywhere on the mainland, where there is nothing special about the way the regions are administered, just a dreadful mix of unfettered state-capitalist corruption & harsh socialist political control. Godspeed, H.K.

The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Charlie King, et al., "Abdul Abulbul Amir" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary:

"The Sons of the Prophet are noble and bold,
And quite unaccustomed to fear,
But the bravest by far in the ranks of the shah
Was Abdul Abulbul Amir."