Common prosperity will help bridge the understanding gap

Editor's note: Beijing rebuked Jeremy Hunt, the United Kingdom's foreign secretary, and Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong for their remarks about the violent protests in Hong Kong recently. China Daily writer Li Yang comments:

Beijing pointed out that the two had no ground on which to stand, since Hong Kong residents did not enjoy any democratic rights under British colonial rule.

However that fact does not help answer the question of why some of the protestors are seemingly nostalgic for the "good old days" of British rule when they were actually not entitled to any of those democratic rights they enjoy today. For instance, they could not choose the head of the administration, had no say over who made up the legislature and were even not allowed to take to the streets, all rights they have enjoyed since Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997.