There's More Than One Of Everything

Growing up in British Hongkong, I was accustomed to the great contrast of Eastern and Western civilizations.  When I was young, I can comfortably drink Chinese tea in the morning, British tea in the afternoon.  Over time, however, the definition of "Chinese" starts to change.  The dual realities that peoples around the World experience is very much different then it used to be.

• There are two logics - "logic" and "Chinese logic"
• There are two milks - "milk" and "Chinese milk"
• There are two foods - "food" and "Chinese food"
• There are two elections - "election" and "Chinese election"
• There are two constitutions - "constitution" and "Chinese constitution"
• There are two socialisms - "socialism" and "Chinese socialism"
• There are two governments - "government" and "Chinese government"
• There are two democracies - "democracy" and "Chinese democracy"

As for us British loyalists, we are especially sad because

• There are two Hongkongs - "Hongkong" and "Chinese Hongkong"

Sometimes I wonder, in a parallel universe which my people rejected the Chinese British Joint Declaration in 1984, how does Hongkong fare...