300 years of colonialism

"[It would take] 300 years of colonialism. In 100 years of colonialism, Hong Kong has changed to what we see today. With China being so big, of course it would require 300 years as a colony for it to be able to transform into how Hong Kong is today. I have my doubts as to whether 300 years would be enough." -- Liu Xiaobo

This quote was often used to dismiss and denounce Liu by Real Chinese Patriots, to show how much he hated his homeland (instead of the more obvious idea: He loved it enough to want it to be better).

But, his frustration and hyperbole aside, was he really wrong?

If:

1. Democracies are the best government to guarantee rights, freedoms, and to curb governmental repression. But:

2. They have to be highly developed democracies in order for this to work. Because:

3. Only "regimes which fully develop institutional practices and mass political behavior consistent with democratic principles will yield any pacifying effect on state repression" (yeah, yeah, I did another thread on this point). Then:

4. How can we say that China is ready for a truly representative, government, that would be more open, less repressive, and therefore obviously better for them?

If the Chinese people don't care much about their own rights, well, do rights even exist in China? Do they need to?

Likewise, if they don't believe that a more accountable government is possible, how can they hold the government accountable?

How many years would it take before they Chinese people realize that an authoritarian, repressive goverment is authoritarian and repressive -- and it doesn't have to be that way?