Blair backs H.K. to make democracy progress with stability

0 Comments | Asian Political News, July 28, 2003

HONG KONG, July 23 Kyodo

British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Wednesday voiced support for Hong Kong, a former British colony, progressing toward greater democracy under Chinese rule while maintaining stability.

The visiting British leader noted the ''one country, two systems'' principle that has governed Hong Kong since its handover in July 1997 is flexible enough to reconcile political disagreements.

''Hong Kong, if it handles the next few years well, as I believe and hope it will, can be an example of how political progress can be made without damaging its central stability,'' Blair told a business luncheon here.

He also welcomed the Hong Kong government's pledge to listen to the voices of the city's people and lift the contentious provisions proposed under an antisubversion bill.

''Our position has consistently been that we hope that Hong Kong will make early progress toward the Basic Law's ultimate aim of election of the chief executive and all members of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage,'' Blair said.

''So, what is vital is that Hong Kong continues its advance as set out in the Basic Law, but maintains the stability that is the ultimate bedrock of your success here,'' he noted.

''I believe the Chinese leadership is dedicated to achieving that,'' he said.

The Basic Law is Hong Kong's post-handover constitution, which allows the city to change its methods for selecting the chief executive and forming the legislature after 2007.

The territory's chief executive is, at present, selected by an 800-member committee dominated by pro-Beijing figures and business leaders. Only 24 members of the 60-seat legislature are returned by direct elections, and that number will be expanded to 30 in the polls next year.

''Hong Kong remains a unique political construct, and its progress was necessarily going to be managed progress. But that is in the interests of everyone,'' Blair said.

Blair cut short his stay in Hong Kong, the last leg of his East Asian tour, and left for London after delivering his luncheon speech as a strong typhoon is approaching the city. He was originally scheduled to depart Thursday.

The Hong Kong government, meanwhile, said Wednesday that it plans to begin a new round of consultation on the proposed national security law in September.

The government will release a consultation document based on its existing proposals and amendments as soon as possible and will listen extensively to the public and lawmakers' views, a local senior security official told a bills committee of the legislature.

Unpopular Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa and his administration have plunged themselves into an unprecedented political crisis over the controversy of the national security bill, which many locals fear will erode the city's autonomy and civil liberties.

Tung's earlier insistence to legislate the bill as required under Article 23 of the Basic Law triggered public anger over his poor governance over the past six years.

A spate of mass protests has forced two of the government's most-disliked ministers here to resign and Tung to promise to change his style of governance and to back down on his original schedule to enact the antisubversion bill.

Commenting on the recent incidents in Hong Kong, Blair said the disagreement has given rise to much speculation that it represents a crisis for the notion of ''one country, two systems.''

''Actually, it indicates that, despite the difficulty, there is sufficient flexibility in the system to allow a disagreement to surface and then be overcome,'' Blair said.

Earlier Wednesday after his talks with Tung, Blair told reporters that it is ''sensible'' for the Hong Kong government to look at the issue of national security legislation again.

''I expressed my hope and wish that we could make progress in accordance with the principles set out in the Joint Declaration between the United Kingdom and China, and also in respect of the Basic Law,'' Blair said.

''I think there is a sense certainly that I have that the authorities here are very much listening to what people say, and that everyone wants to move forward in a situation where we maintain the essential stability that is a crucial part of the success of Hong Kong,'' he said.