Hong Kong has been
part of the territory of China for centuries. It was occupied by the British
after the Opium War in 1840, and taken by Britain on the 25th January 1841.1
A chart cast for 12pm on
that day places the Sun at 5° Aquarius, exactly conjunct the Moon and
Ascendant in the chart of the People's Republic of China.
The restoration of Chinese
rule to Hong Kong at 00hrs, 1st of July 1997, (the "long cherished aspiration
of the people of China"), is preceded by the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction
in Aquarius on this chart's Sun and the Moon/Asc. conjunction in Aquarius
on the People's Republic of China chart, suggesting a continuation of free-market
policies after the handover.
The fourteen year Jupiter/Uranus
conjunction cycle is, according to French astrologer, Andre Barbault, one
of the predominently capitalist-oriented cycles. He sees it also as an
important factor for rebellion against the status quo, whatever that may
be at the time. He says: "This gives rise to power, ambition, audacity,
risk-taking, excessively extremist behaviour. In a constructive phase it
is a most powerful agent for change and progress. In a society in crisis
it can cause highly volatile situations to erupt without warning and an
atmosphere of acute tension. In this state it has a particularly dangerous
'war mongering' potential."2
It is also interesting to
note that the Full Moon in June, immediately prior to the hand over, falls
on the Gemini Saturn placement of the 25 January 1841 chart, suggesting
an end to British occupation.
On the 19th of December 1984,
the Chinese and British governments signed the Joint Declaration in Beijing,
affirming that the People's Republic of China will resume sovereignty of
Hong Kong. After July the 1st Hong Kong becomes known as the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region (S.A.R.), and will function under the principle
of "one country, two systems". Hong Kong's current capitalist way of life
will continue and the Mainland's socialist system will not be practiced.
This is the foundation of 'The Basic Law' of the Hong Kong S.A.R., which
is to hold effect until 2047. The general principles of 'The Basic Law'
are to ensure that the region maintains a high degree of autonomy and legislative
and judicial power, and the rights and freedom of its citizens are safeguarded.
Civil liberties will be guaranteed, however, foreign policy and defence
matters will be determined by Beijing.
The
Astrological Perspective.
The United Kingdom:
The chart I have primarily
used for Britain is the January 1st, 1801, Foundation of the United Kingdom
chart, set at 00hrs LMT for Westminster, though also of interest is the
Battle of Hastings chart of 1066.
Britain took control of Hong
Kong in 1841 with transiting Pluto aspecting both the 1801 and 1066 charts'
natal Plutos, and it relinquishes control on July the 1st with Pluto again
transiting the natal Plutos. Also of significance is transiting Saturn
squaring the 1801 Moon and the 1066 Midheaven. So as you can see this is
a major loss to the United Kingdom.
By secondary progression,
the 1801 retrograde Saturn is now direct and conjunct its natal
position and conjunct the AS/MC midpoint; indicators of a loss and
departure. Solar Arc directed Moon triggers theSaturn/Moon's
Node midpoint and reinforces the potential for separation.
At the midnight hour the
Sun conjuncts the natal Midheaven, opposes its own natal position and semi-squares
natal Saturn. The Sun at Midheaven is symbolic of sovereignty and Sun opposition
Sun is loss of power. Transiting Mars conjuncts the UK's Ascendant indicating
a decisive moment, and the Ascendant, relocated for London, conjoins the
natal Neptune suggests all is not as it seems from the British perspective.
The Moon comes into opposition with natal Neptune, implying the telling
of untruths and deception, and Mercury squares the Moon's Node, which is
appropriate for a negotiated activity. A fortunate trine from Uranus (though
retrograde) is made to the Ascendant suggesting the changeover goes smoothly.
China:
China, of course, has everything
to gain and nothing to lose. So, obviously this is shown in her chart,
which is set for 1 October 1949 at 3:15pm CCT, Beijing. This chart, representing
communist rule and modern China, has been very accurate over the years
for reflecting China's major events since 1949. From it, it has been possible
to recognise The Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, the death
of Mao, the Tiananmen Square crackdown and the current Hong Kong handover.
On July 1st the principal
transit has to be Uranus to the natal Ascendant by conjunction; change
doesn't come much clearer than this. In addition,
Uranus aspects
the Venus/Jupiter midpoint indicating joyous excitement and the
quick fulfilment of wishes. Transiting Mars conjoins China's Sun, which
is a bit worrying as it implies militant inclinations. Venus opposes the
Moon and the Moon opposes Venus, which has its positive and negative possibilities.
Positively, there is hope for a peaceful integration of cultures, negatively,
the rights of the citizens (particularly free-thinking women) may be compromised.
The Moon's Node contacts the Moon's Node/Midheaven midpoint, which
roughly translates to a unification of like-minded people.
Most alarming, however, is
the transit of Neptune over China's
Mercury/Mars midpoint:
"Speaking
without acting, not keeping promises, the tendency to harm others through
falsehood or underhanded behaviour, the process of undermining another
person's position" COSI
3.
The implications of this
midpoint are enormous, and are not made less by the following Solar Arcs:
Solar
Arc Mars semi-squares Pluto = AS/MC; Solar Arc Uranus semi-squares Sun
= Pluto/Midheaven (a sudden attainment of one's aim or aspiration with
irresistable power); Solar Arc Neptune = Mercury/Jupiter, "the
tendency to bamboozle or mislead other people, a person successful in deception"
(COSI); and the Midheaven directed to Neptune and Mars/Saturn which
suggests undermining forces (if China should renege on its promises the
backlash will be destablising internationally).
The Hong Kong Handover Chart:
There is friction in this
chart! Mars, the Ascendant ruler, is in the 7th House, in poor zodiacal
state in Libra, and its dispositor, Saturn, is in the 1st in its fall in
Aries; both are peregrine. Applying the medieval rule that the good or
bad of a house is signified by the ruler of the house, doesn't fill one
with great optimism in this case; Mars and Saturn are angular, making their
ability to wreak havoc strong in partnerships and alliances.
Social issues will be contentious:
Jupiter and Uranus are retrograde in Aquarius, and Jupiter is peregrine.
Democracy will be weakened. The Sun and Mercury are combust in Cancer in
the 4th. Domestic matters will be a constant issue and a certain lack of
objectivity will prevail - the new Hong Kong will not be able to see itself
as others see it.
The best feature of the chart
is, appropriately, the 2nd house. The foundation stone of Hong Kong, its
4th house, has its ruler, the Moon, here in the 2nd and in Taurus, conjunct
the Part of Fortune. The Moon is the strongest planet in the chart, and
the chart Almutem as well. Hong Kong will continue to be a major financial
centre despite its internal conflicts. This will be the case for at least
the first nine years under the Moon's Firdaria. However expect restrictions
to come into effect after this period which will last for about 11 years
as Hong Kong enters its Saturn Firdaria (and remember Saturn is destructive
in this chart).
By midpoint, Neptune
sits on the Sun/Moon and Pluto on the Mars/Neptune. The former will
be triggered by directed Saturn during the Saturn Firdaria at the same
time as the latter is activated by the directed Sun in 2007, on the 10th
anniversary of the handover. Should be interesting to watch.
References:
1 "Mundane Astrology"
by Baigent, Campion & Harvey, pp 466.
2 Andre Barbault,
"Mundane Astrology" by Baigent, Campion & Harvey, pp 187.
3 COSI is
an abbreviation for The Combination of Stellar Influences by Reinhold
Ebertin
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