A bridge no more : Hong Kong's diminished role in cross-strait relations

In the history of modern China, Hong Kong has frequently played an important role as a bridge in cross-strait political relations, providing a place and a political environment in which Beijing and Taipei could talk — often secretly — to one another. But with relations between Mainland China and Taiwan warming quickly in recent years, and China asserting greater control over Hong Kong-Taiwan relations, that bridging role may no longer be as important, writes Hong Kong academic Yiu-chung Wong.