A Letter Home: A Letter to Son, from Dr. Chen Hongtian, a member of the CPPCC National Committee,a Justice of the Peace appointed by the HKSAR, and chairman of Cheung Kei Group

2020.02.11

This is a letter that Dr. Chen has shared with me, when we were having a casual conversation ontopics ranging from international current affairs to education. It is a letterthat he wrote to his son that I think expresses the sense of positivity that ismuch needed today. I edited the letter and have added a photograph of him toshare with you all today.

—— Mr. Shu Xin

"A Letter to My Son"

This is a letter that I wrote to my second son half a month ago. The hostility directed at China spearheaded by the United States, and the use of various forms of anti-China propaganda, has left a dire impact on the next generation. If our country does not pay sufficient attention to this matter, the consequences will be unimaginable.

—— Dr. Chen Hongtian

Dear Kun Kun,

I saw the message that you sent to your mom, and I was happy and sad at the same time. I was happy because I felt that you have truly grown up, you have learned to truly care for others, and express concern for your mom and dad's safety and health. Your mother has dedicated 18 years to raising and teaching you, and now her efforts are paying off, because you are a good kid. However, as a father, my heart aches to know that a child like you, who grew up in a patriotic family like ours, have been affected by the American's anti-China, anti-Communist, treacherous and racist propaganda. Someone like you, who is unfamiliar with politics, and who only has a brief understanding on Chinese current affairs and history, now has a misunderstanding and prejudice against the homeland.

In the past decades, China has rapidly developed into the world's second-largest economy from a fairly impoverished nation. The achievements made by the Chinese Communist Party and the government has enabled billions of people to now live a fulfilling life – this is a fact, which foreign interferences can never smear and erase. With the Coronavirus pandemic, I witnessed medical personnel from all over the country rushing to provide aid in the disaster-stricken areas. Such scenes have brought tears to my eyes over and over, and I was in awe of the greatness of the motherland and the unity of our country. The hostile foreign interference had criticized the series of emergency measures implemented by the government, as "Chinese people do not have freedom". While the government was condemned for "not caring for the life and death of its people" while it was still observing the epidemic as the situation was still developing. Like the popular saying in Guangdong, "people needlessly criticize, whether you are peeling the skin of a melon or abitter gourd" – this saying encapsulates the foreign powers' attacks on China all these time.

You were concerned about what was happening in Hong Kong earlier, regarding the extradition of a murderer to Taiwan. Anti-Chinese forces have twisted and manipulated the efforts to solve this simple and logical issue with the law, turning a great city to ruins and shambles, and the U.S. House Speaker even called it "a beautiful sight to behold". Let us think about this objectively, if this "beautiful sight" had occurred in any other cities, the U.S government and police would certainly use their heaviest weapons to deal with these "rioters". If over thousands of such people attempt to destroy a city so recklessly, the U.S government and police might even use grenades and machine guns on them. However, when this happened in Hong Kong, these hostile forces have been using it as propaganda for the lack of democracy and human rights. Let us think again, where else in the world do people enjoy more human rights, freedom, and is more "democratic" than Hong Kong?

China is a countrywith 1.4 billion people, and with its rapid development in the past decades, it is inevitable that there are some issues in the government, policies, or with certain officials. It is inevitable that some issues would arise at a certain point of time that a compromise has to be made even though we know that there are inadequacies.

For example, you have lived in Hong Kong and Shanghai. And these are many areas in Shanghai's urban planning that is superior to Hong Kong, because Shanghai has a strong government. Large areas of the old town could be planned into parks and infrastructure much needed by society, but the same could never be done in Hong Kong because the land is privatized. In China, we call this putting social interest and public interest before self-interest. In Hong Kong, you would see the older districts being re-developed, but only one building after another. In a few decades, you would see the gap between the infrastructures of both cities.

We are both Chinese living in Hong Kong. I have worked and developed my career in Mainland China, I have massive investments in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, I have also participated in many social events. I know the differences between different places, and I am unhappy with some officials and policies in the Mainland too.I have felt deeply wronged and insulted, and I have suffered great economic losses as a result. But all these have not affected my patriotism, and how I would defend the dignity of my race. You are Chinese, and you are my child. I hope that you and your brother would always remember that you are Chinese, and a descendent of the Chinese race. Only when your motherland is strong, that you live with dignity abroad, to not be bullied by others.

Perhaps our country has some imperfections and inadequacies, just like your mother, father, and brothers could make mistakes too. But you have to know that this is always family. How can inadequacies be a reason for you to not love, or to affect your love for your mom and dad? How can you deny your mom and dad because of them?

(Forwarded from Shenzhen Harmony Club's newsletter, published on WeChat on February 10, 2020)