Seventeen years after its handover from the United Kingdom to China, Hong Kong fears for its future. The constitutional principle of “one country, two systems” has been dangerously threatened by the release of “the white paper” in June 2014 – a strongly worded policy paper in which Beijing claimed ultimate authority over Hong Kong. Its advantages over China – having an independent legal system, efficient bureaucracy, and a comparatively open economy – seem to be at risk more than ever before. Rick Hornik will talk about what to expect from the mainland’s policy towards Britain’s former colony, and if Hong Kong residents should expect a free and open election  in 2017, as promised.