This Associated Press article about the Chinese government's concerns about the government of Hong Kong struck me as interesting. This quote seemed especially ominous:

``In interpreting relevant clauses of the annexes of the Basic Law, the NPC Standing Committee aims to put an end to confusions and differences,'' Xinhua said.

Whenever I have arguments with my roommate about Taiwan (my "idealistic" notions of popular sovereignty and self-determination conflicts with his "pragmatic" idea that reunification would be best for all concerned parties), he brings up Hong Kong as a place where reunification has helped liberalize China. I guess he might have to find a new argument.