Online Public Relations Thoughts

 A Hong Kong court has given a pro-democracy demonstrator a 9-year sentence for protesting the Chinese government's restriction of free speech in the territory.  One can no longer criticize Beijing's rulings and tactics and not be held accountable.  The heavy hand of the state has destroyed diversity of political opinion.  The communist government is well into an experiment that has already failed  -- Marxist capitalism.  Business can operate in China but it must refrain from saying anything negative about the state.  The same restriction has now been applied to Hong Kong, traditionally a free-wheeling entity.  In such an environment, public relations is difficult.  One is constantly looking over the shoulder to determine what is acceptable to bureaucrats.  Publicity must be vetted.  What an organization says about itself must be approved.  Even mild disagreements raise the specter of prison time.  China can get away with destruction of speech for decades, but eventually its citizens will rebel again.