H.K. gov't seeks views on methods to select leader in 2007

Asian Economic News, May 17, 2004

HONG KONG, May 11 Kyodo

The Hong Kong government urged the public Tuesday to propose changes to the methods of choosing the city's chief executive in 2007 and the legislature in 2008, after Beijing denied the former British colony universal suffrage from 2007.

But the government was quick to note any changes will have to fall within the parameters set in Hong Kong's Basic Law and by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's parliament.

''I do believe the Hong Kong people are pragmatic, sensible people. It will not be very fruitful to advocate views which fall outside the decision of the NPC Standing Committee that will lead us nowhere,'' Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang said. ''I am quite sure people in general will not wish to advocate a proposal which will lead us nowhere.''

The NPC Standing Committee last month formally ruled out universal suffrage for the elections of Hong Kong's chief executive in 2007 and legislature in 2008.

The top committee also decided the number of legislature seats returned by functional constituencies based on professions and by direct elections in 2008 should remain at a half-and-half ratio.

The rulings crushed hopes for a faster pace of democratization in Hong Kong despite the facts that tens of thousands of people had taken to the streets to demand full democracy as soon as possible.

Britain and the United States have expressed disappointment with Beijing's decisions.

In its new report on constitutional development Tuesday, the Hong Kong government laid out areas that may be considered for change in the methods for selecting the chief executive in 2007 and the legislature in 2008.

''If we are able to reach consensus on changing the present arrangements in 2007 and 2008, moving toward universal suffrage quite significantly, I am quite sure the people will see that we are moving in the right direction and the community, at the end of the day, will be content,'' Tsang told reporters.

But the largest opposition Democratic Party criticized the report, saying it is just an outcome following Beijing's decisions that are damaging the high autonomy in Hong Kong and disregarding the demand for democracy by the people.

Chairman Yeung Sum said his party will insist on direct elections from 2007 and will not submit any revised proposals to the government.

The government report asked the public to suggest how to enhance the board ''representativeness'' and to allow more members of different sectors of the community to take part in the election of the chief executive.

Now, the chief executive is picked by an 800-member election committee controlled by Beijing.

As for the legislature in 2008, the government asked the public to suggest whether the number of seats needs to be increased from the present 60.

In the upcoming elections in September, half the seats in the legislature will be returned by direct vote, while the rest will be elected through functional constituencies that represent various professions.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said Tuesday that he fully appreciates there is an aspiration in the community for universal suffrage and understands that some people feel disappointed about not having full democracy from 2007.

But the Beijing-appointed Hong Kong leader reiterated that the NPC Standing Committee's decisions on constitutional issues have been made ''entirely for the sake of Hong Kong's long-term interests, prosperity and stability.''

''The ultimate aim of having universal suffrage in our democratic development process will not change,'' Tung said.

Both Beijing and the Hong Kong government have yet to give any timetable for democracy in the territory.