|
China to consider Hong Kong push for democracy
2007-12-18
China's parliament will decide next week whether to allow greater democracy in Hong Kong, but no one in the liberal camp is expecting a surprise Christmas present from the Communist rulers in Beijing. Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang urged China this month to allow greater democracy in the former British colony in a report that said the majority of people in Hong Kong wanted direct elections by 2012. But the report was criticized by the pro-democracy camp for its lack of a timetable and for suggesting a delay until 2017 as a more pragmatic option. "We do not agree with the conclusions and suggestions made in the report," Hong Kong's pro-democracy legislators wrote in an open letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday. "...we hope to meet and exchange views with officials before the Chinese parliament makes a decision, to reflect Hong Kong residents' wish for direct elections in 2012." Since Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule in 1997, how and when Hong Kong might be allowed full democracy has dominated local politics, driving a wedge between the pro-democracy and pro-establishment camps. Hong Kong's mini-constitution promises direct elections as the "ultimate aim" but is vague on a date, giving Beijing scope to dictate the pace. Tsang's report will be considered by the Standing Committee of China's parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC), in a meeting next week, Xinhua news agency reported. Hong Kong observers are already predicting Beijing will rule out universal suffrage by 2012. "Beijing would like to appear fairly open-minded about 2017, but not 2012. I doubt very much whether anything will happen for 2012," said a well-placed political source. Some analysts said it would be naive to expect any liberal promises from Beijing. "Hong Kong's democratic development must be in step with China's. If there aren't big improvements in China, there is no hope for Hong Kong," said Jin Zhong, a veteran China-watcher and the publisher of the Hong Kong-based monthly magazine Open. Others said China was unlikely to come up with any political surprises, preferring instead a constitutional reform process at a glacial pace. "China knows Hong Kong can be controlled effectively ... even if there's another half million strong protest, Beijing will not be concerned," said Jin, referring to a pro-democracy protest in 2003. "It knows Hong Kong people are civilized, they'll go home and go to work the next day, it will pass." The report submitted to China's parliament last week found that 69 percent of Hong Kong people wanted full democracy in 2012, but 2017 "stood a better chance of being accepted." (Editing by Nick Macfie)
| 
