China: Unleashing the Dragon

This year marks the end of the long reign of British rule in Hong Kong (one of the most prominent tigers in the Asian economy), as it reverts to Chinese control. Narrated by actress Joan Chen, this four-video series looks at the social, political, and economic transformations sweeping China today. We watched the final episode Hong Kong & The Boom Towns (where we hoped to pick up some worthwhile investment tips, but didn't) which questioned whether Hong Kong--and China, in general--could flourish under the "one country, two systems" slogan. Clearly, the economic and political freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong are going to come under closer scrutiny by Beijing, whose track record on tolerance has not been particularly good. Under the old "rice bowl" system, the situation was fairly simple: everyone was equally poor; with the new burgeoning capitalism in China, doors are opening everywhere and the politicos are getting nervous. To make matters worse, there's a fair amount of corruption (illegal goods flowing into mainland China from Hong Kong). A revealing look at the powerful forces which are reshaping China, this series will provide food for thought for both students and the general public. The other three titles in the series are: Deng's Legacy, The Fragile Rice Bowl, and The Soul of the Master. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman)