Stupid communist central government... first they keep saying fine we'll agree to constitutional reform now they suddenly stamped out election, not allowing us to hold elections in 2007 and 2008.
"HK has enjoyed unprecedented democratic rights... universal suffrage shall not be applied"
******* bull****, it wasn't too long ago you guys thretened us with this ammendment proposal on the pretext of implementing article 23 that blantantly would have stripped us of all our rights.. hell I could've been arrested for post this...
_________________________________________
HONG KONG (AP) - China's most powerful legislative committee ruled Monday that Hong Kong cannot directly elect its next leader, crushing hopes in the Chinese territory for a quick move toward full democracy.
Hong Kong will be allowed to make changes to its electoral methods but they must come gradually, according to the Chinese National People's Congress Standing Committee.
The decision, reported by China's official Xinhua News Agency, ruled out what many Hong Kong people have been demanding - the right to democratically choose a successor to the unpopular Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa in 2007 and all lawmakers in 2008.
Tung was picked by an 800-member committee that sides with Beijing. In a hint of reforms that might be possible, Hong Kong's No. 2 official, Donald Tsang, told a news conference the committee that selects Tung's successor could be expanded to make it more representative.
But Tsang sought to play down any hopes that the public will play a greater role.
"We must understand the political reality,'' he said.
China insisted it had paid heed to the public's wishes.
Beijing noted that Hong Kong's system of partial democracy gives ordinary people more say than they had under 156 years of British colonial rule that ended with the handover to Chinese sovereignty in July 1997.
"Before 1997, the Hong Kong compatriots, including your fathers and mothers, had no democracy,'' Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told reporters in Shanghai.
"Now, everything follows the rule of law and this is real democracy.''
Although ordinary Hong Kongers have no say in picking their leader, they will directly elect 30 of 60 Legislative Council members in September, up from 24 last time.
Opposition Hong Kong lawmaker Fred Li accused Beijing of "dictating Hong Kong policy'' without regard to public opinion. Li said the decision violated Beijing's promise to give Hong Kong a great deal of autonomy after the handover.
Political scientists and pro-democracy politicians predicted more protests in Hong Kong.
A big one is planned for July 1, the anniversary of a massive march by 500,000 people that forced Tung to backtrack on an anti-subversion bill that was widely seen here as a threat to freedom.
"We will not give up the fight for democracy,'' said Yeung Sum, the leader of Hong Kong's opposition Democratic Party who spoke at a news conference flanked by grim-faced legislative colleagues.
Tung told reporters later he understood that Beijing's decision will upset many of Hong Kong's 6.8 million people, but he urged them to "be calm and rational and strive for consensus on the constitutional development of Hong Kong.''
Full democracy remains Hong Kong's constitutional goal, Tung insisted, but he would not offer any timetable.
The Standing Committee shocked Hong Kong earlier this month by issuing a binding ruling that any electoral reforms must be approved in advance by Beijing.
Tung then proposed a set of nine guidelines that any reforms should meet, including keeping China's views in mind.
While Hong Kong residents will elect 30 lawmakers in September, the other 30 will be chosen by elite voters from special interest groups - such as business leaders, doctors and bankers - which tend to side with Beijing.
Critics say that keeps the system unfairly rigged, and Tsang said there are no plans to expand the proportion of legislative seats that are directly elected.
Just hours before China issued its decision, three hardline political activists tried Monday to enter the mainland and protest but were turned back at the border following a minor scuffle. - AP
"HK has enjoyed unprecedented democratic rights... universal suffrage shall not be applied"
******* bull****, it wasn't too long ago you guys thretened us with this ammendment proposal on the pretext of implementing article 23 that blantantly would have stripped us of all our rights.. hell I could've been arrested for post this...
_________________________________________
HONG KONG (AP) - China's most powerful legislative committee ruled Monday that Hong Kong cannot directly elect its next leader, crushing hopes in the Chinese territory for a quick move toward full democracy.
Hong Kong will be allowed to make changes to its electoral methods but they must come gradually, according to the Chinese National People's Congress Standing Committee.
The decision, reported by China's official Xinhua News Agency, ruled out what many Hong Kong people have been demanding - the right to democratically choose a successor to the unpopular Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa in 2007 and all lawmakers in 2008.
Tung was picked by an 800-member committee that sides with Beijing. In a hint of reforms that might be possible, Hong Kong's No. 2 official, Donald Tsang, told a news conference the committee that selects Tung's successor could be expanded to make it more representative.
But Tsang sought to play down any hopes that the public will play a greater role.
"We must understand the political reality,'' he said.
China insisted it had paid heed to the public's wishes.
Beijing noted that Hong Kong's system of partial democracy gives ordinary people more say than they had under 156 years of British colonial rule that ended with the handover to Chinese sovereignty in July 1997.
"Before 1997, the Hong Kong compatriots, including your fathers and mothers, had no democracy,'' Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told reporters in Shanghai.
"Now, everything follows the rule of law and this is real democracy.''
Although ordinary Hong Kongers have no say in picking their leader, they will directly elect 30 of 60 Legislative Council members in September, up from 24 last time.
Opposition Hong Kong lawmaker Fred Li accused Beijing of "dictating Hong Kong policy'' without regard to public opinion. Li said the decision violated Beijing's promise to give Hong Kong a great deal of autonomy after the handover.
Political scientists and pro-democracy politicians predicted more protests in Hong Kong.
A big one is planned for July 1, the anniversary of a massive march by 500,000 people that forced Tung to backtrack on an anti-subversion bill that was widely seen here as a threat to freedom.
"We will not give up the fight for democracy,'' said Yeung Sum, the leader of Hong Kong's opposition Democratic Party who spoke at a news conference flanked by grim-faced legislative colleagues.
Tung told reporters later he understood that Beijing's decision will upset many of Hong Kong's 6.8 million people, but he urged them to "be calm and rational and strive for consensus on the constitutional development of Hong Kong.''
Full democracy remains Hong Kong's constitutional goal, Tung insisted, but he would not offer any timetable.
The Standing Committee shocked Hong Kong earlier this month by issuing a binding ruling that any electoral reforms must be approved in advance by Beijing.
Tung then proposed a set of nine guidelines that any reforms should meet, including keeping China's views in mind.
While Hong Kong residents will elect 30 lawmakers in September, the other 30 will be chosen by elite voters from special interest groups - such as business leaders, doctors and bankers - which tend to side with Beijing.
Critics say that keeps the system unfairly rigged, and Tsang said there are no plans to expand the proportion of legislative seats that are directly elected.
Just hours before China issued its decision, three hardline political activists tried Monday to enter the mainland and protest but were turned back at the border following a minor scuffle. - AP
Hopefully when I go there in two months it's still OK...
