Hong Kong’s youth press campaign despite China’s rejection of full democracy
HONG KONG/BEIJING: When the British handed over Hong Kong to China in 1997, Beijing promised to allow universal suffrage as an “ultimate aim”, along with other freedoms, under a “one country, two systems” arrangement agreed with London.
That’s not going to happen, well placed sources in Beijing and Hong Kong say, as Hong Kong marks the 20th anniversary of that handover.
China did offer a contentious electoral reform package in 2014, which allowed Hong Kong a direct vote, but only of candidates prescreened by Beijing. The city’s prodemocracy lawmakers vetoed the package, which critics called “fake democracy”. And so Hong Kong’s next leader was again chosen this year by a small electoral college stacked with pro-Beijing loyalists.
“There will be no second chance,” said a source in Beijing with ties to the Chinese leadership, who declined to be named given the sensitivity of the matter. “We can’t afford to do it all over again. It’s too painful and a waste of time and resources.”
A senior Hong Kong official said even if China changed its mind, Beijing wouldn’t back down on its requirement that candidates be vetted, effectively shutting out pro- democracy contenders for the top job.
“A (democratically-elected) chief executive who does not get along with the central (government) will be a disaster for Hong Kong,” said the source with ties to the Chinese leadership.
“It would lead to gridlock ... Hong Kong people will suffer.”
The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of China’s State Council did not respond to faxed questions. But Chinese authorities have long stated they respect Hong Kong’s “high degree of autonomy” and are supportive of lawful and gradual democratic development util universal suffrage is realised.
The battle for full democracy in Hong Kong has been a defining issue for the city of 7.3 million.
It has sown distrust between China and Hong Kong, polarized politics, hampered governance and stoked mass street protests, including the 79- day prodemocracy Occupy movement of 2014 that tried but failed to wrest democratic concessions from Hong Kong and Chinese authorities.
In the process, a young generation has become radicalised, with some agitating for greater autonomy and even independence from China.
Authorities have tried to snuff that out.
In March, Hong Kong police arrested nine activists including a few leaders of the Occupy movement.
That came after two proindependence, democratically elected legislators were kicked out of Hong Kong’s assembly late last year.
Beijing’s harder line on Hong Kong has been mirrored on the mainland with President Xi Jinping’s crackdown on dissent since coming to power five years ago.
Hong Kong’s democratic experiment is seen as a litmus test of Beijing’s tolerance for eventual political reforms in mainland China, where calls for greater civil liberties and grassroots democracy have been growing, experts say. — Reuters