HK body edits out criticism of China

Hong Kong – The Law Society in the Chinese-controlled city of Hong Kong edited out criticism of Beijing in its report to the government on constitutional reform, one member said yesterday, adding he was “embarrassed” by its silence.

The report was submitted as part of a public consultation on how Hong Kong’s leader should be elected in 2017 and comes after months of street protests during which police used tear gas and batons to subdue student-led pro-democracy activists.

Mark Daly, a member of the committee drafting the report, said the society was becoming more and more like mainland China, “remaining silent on human rights issues and rule-of-law issues”.

“We should be speaking out more and educating the public more ... and it’s embarrassing that the Law Society isn’t,” he said.

The former British colony returned to China in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” formula that gives it a separate legal system and greater freedoms than the Communist Party-ruled mainland – and the promise of universal suff rage.

Beijing sa id it would allow a free vote in 2017, but only between pre-screened candidates.

Last week marked the end of a public consultation process during which a number of groups, including the 8 000-strong Law Society, offered opinions to the Hong Kong government on its proposal for electoral reform, which closely mirrors a decision published by China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) standing committee in August.

An early draft of the Law Society report concluded it was “disappointed by the [NPC] decision, as it is regressive”, Daly said. The NPC decision was “contrary to the Law Society’s prior proposals”, Daly said, reading from the original report.

But the fi nal report stresse d the society’s support for the NPC standing committ ee decision. It also confi rmed the committ ee had “general and free-standing power” to interpret Hong Kong’s mini- constitution, the Basic Law.

The Law Society did not respond on a request for comment. The South China Morning Post was first to report the discrepancy. – Reuters

We should be speaking out more and educating the public more ... and it’s embarrassing that the Law Society isn’t