Constitutional change in Hong Kong and Taiwan in the late twentieth century: A comparative perspective

Abstract

Since the 1980s, both Hong Kong and Taiwan have undergone dramatic constitutional changes, including the remaking of the constitutional order and democratisation of the political institutions. Both Hong Kong and Taiwan are now open and pluralistic societies that respect human rights and the rule of law and practise constitutional government. In both Hong Kong and Taiwan, there is a vibrant civil society and a free press and members of the public who are vigilant of their rights. Yet both Hong Kong and Taiwan today live in the shadow of Communist Mainland China, conceived of by considerable numbers of Hong Kong people and of Taiwan people as “the Other”. It is precisely the problems of how the people of Hong Kong and Taiwan should position themselves towards this Other and of how this Other would view Hong Kong and Taiwan that present the greatest challenge for the people of Hong Kong and Taiwan in further developing their respective constitutional orders.