http://www.newdelhitimes.com/pan-democrats-in-hong-kong-tiptoeing-on-a-thread/
Latest Stories / Op - eds / Politics / World | By Mr. Li Xiaojun Director, The State Council Information Office, P.R.China
Pan-Democrats in Hong Kong tiptoeing on a thread
Occupy Central with Love & Peace (OCLP) demonstration driven by pan-democrats in Hong Kong turned violent on early September 28. Protesters, mainly middle school students and college students, broke the police cordon guarding the government headquarters. The police had to use teargas and pepper spray to disperse the crowds. And rumors spread like virus on social media that the police shot the masses using rubber bullets and that the PLA troops were set to step in. Worried parents and grandparents rushed to the streets to look for their children. This in turn blocked the police movement on the streets. Traffic jams and chaos were unavoidable. The situation seemed spin out of control next day. The violent protesters seemed forget where they should go. On September 29, many primary and middle schools had to be closed. Foreign and Chinese mainland tourists were caught in the uninvited trouble.
But the underlying facts are: the majority of Hong Kong people are against Occupy Central. No business tycoon supports it except Jimmy Lai, the owner of an anti-Beijing media group. The judicial independence of Hong Kong has not been encroached upon since its handover to China on July 1, 1997. No single case was referred to Beijing in the past 17 years. Britain’s top judge, David Neuberger, said on August 26 that he “could see no evidence that judicial independence in Hong Kong had been eroded”. No tax in any form was collected by the central government from Hong Kong. Hong Kong people look after their health, education, religious and many other affairs by themselves except for defense and foreign affairs. Hong Kong people only got to know the taste of democracy after 155 years of colonization by the British who only appointed governors for Hong Kong.
Turning a blind eye to such progress, the demonstrators called for “real autonomy” and public nomination for the universal suffrage of the chief executive of Hong Kong in 2017. The pan-democrats are bringing the political process in Hong Kong to a dead-end. Their dream is to turn Hong Kong into an independent or semi-independent political entity which is doomed to failure.
Occupy Central to destabilize the economy
The Chinese Constitution and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (HKSAR) provide Hong Kong with three formulas, namely the “one country, two systems,” “Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy. Hong Kong’s democracy and capitalist economy developed smoothly since the handover in 1997. The General Regional Product (GRP) rose from HK$ 1.37 trillion in 1997 to HK$ 2.12 trillion in 2013. It is the 7 million Hong Kong people who have benefited the most.
Today, the pan-democrats claim that they are fighting for real autonomy, judicial independence and rule of law. But they are breaking the law at first place. Usually Hong Kong people protest in the Victoria Park, like Delhities protest in Jantar Matar area. Nobody has protested in the Central since Hong Kong was handed back to China. The Central, or the Central Circle, is Hong Kong’s nerve center where the headquarters of the administration, the legislative council, the military, international banks, stock exchange locate. In another name, it is the central business district of Hong Kong. So the hidden agenda of Occupy Central is to destabilize the Hong Kong economy to put pressure upon Beijing. Hong Kong receives more than 5 crore inbound tourists in 2013 and over 4 crore of them are from mainland China. The tourism industry is ready to host one million mainland tourists during the National Day Holiday October 1-7. The industry might suffer in view of the current situation. But the pan-democrats do not care about this. On the contrary they want to take advantage of this. The protestors’ declared target is to force the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, to take back its decision on universal suffrage for HKSAR chief selection in 2017. The decision does not fall down from the sky. It is based on many rounds of consultations spearheaded by Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying. The decision is legally binding. No doubt, this is also pan-democrats’ unlawful claim. It is unrealistic and naive to force the top legislature to bite the dirt. In a word, Occupy Central is a lawless activity.
The Chinese Constitution and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (HKSAR) provide Hong Kong with three formulas, namely the “one country, two systems,” “Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy. Hong Kong’s democracy and capitalist economy developed smoothly since the handover in 1997. The General Regional Product (GRP) rose from HK$ 1.37 trillion in 1997 to HK$ 2.12 trillion in 2013. It is the 7 million Hong Kong people who have benefited the most.
Today, the pan-democrats claim that they are fighting for real autonomy, judicial independence and rule of law. But they are breaking the law at first place. Usually Hong Kong people protest in the Victoria Park, like Delhities protest in Jantar Matar area. Nobody has protested in the Central since Hong Kong was handed back to China. The Central, or the Central Circle, is Hong Kong’s nerve center where the headquarters of the administration, the legislative council, the military, international banks, stock exchange locate. In another name, it is the central business district of Hong Kong. So the hidden agenda of Occupy Central is to destabilize the Hong Kong economy to put pressure upon Beijing. Hong Kong receives more than 5 crore inbound tourists in 2013 and over 4 crore of them are from mainland China. The tourism industry is ready to host one million mainland tourists during the National Day Holiday October 1-7. The industry might suffer in view of the current situation. But the pan-democrats do not care about this. On the contrary they want to take advantage of this. The protestors’ declared target is to force the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, to take back its decision on universal suffrage for HKSAR chief selection in 2017. The decision does not fall down from the sky. It is based on many rounds of consultations spearheaded by Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying. The decision is legally binding. No doubt, this is also pan-democrats’ unlawful claim. It is unrealistic and naive to force the top legislature to bite the dirt. In a word, Occupy Central is a lawless activity.
The NPC Decision
The Basic Law of Hong Kong explicitly stipulates that the chief executive and all the members of the Legislative Council must be elected by universal suffrage, making universal suffrage a legal objective.
The decision of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) on August 31 prescribes that 2-3 candidates for the universal suffrage must be nominated by the majority of a 1200 member of Election Committee. The members should come from the four major sectors of “industry, commerce and finance,” ”the professions,” “labor, social services, religious and other sectors” and “members of the Legislative Council, representatives of district boards and Heung Yee Kuk, HKSAR deputies to the NPC, and representatives of HKSAR members of the National Committee of the CPPCC ” in equal proportions. Such a composition is an expression of equal participation and broad representativeness. But the democrats and protestors accuse that this is not representative enough and it even is pro-Beijing.
The decision also requires that the chief executive to be elected by universal suffrage must be a person who loves the country and Hong Kong. As to “Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong”, late Chinese paramount leader Deng Xiaoping stressed that Hong Kong must be governed by the Hong Kong people with patriots as the mainstay, as loyalty to one’s country is the minimum political ethic for political figures. What’s more, the central leadership has the option of appointing or not appointing an elected chief executive leaving no loophole for a non-patriot to usurp the suffrage. The pan-democrats also oppose this. They know they have a skeleton in the wardrobe. In the previous election arrangement, a person might be nominated if 150 members in the Election Committee voted for them. Under the new rule, they have to get majority votes, or minimum 601 votes, from the members. They know well they do not have such high appealing in the 1200-member election committee. So they would rather fight against Beijing’s arrangement for the universal suffrage in 2017 although they never admitted it. It is selfish and against the tide of the age. It is also against the Constitution and the Basic Law.
The decision also draws the roadmap for the election of legislative council members by universal suffrage. It states that this can be gradually realized after the successful conduct of the election of chief executive by universal suffrage.
A Chinese government white paper on Hong Kong published in early June states that the Chinese central leadership continues its support for the HKSAR in developing a system of democratic governance that suits the actual conditions in Hong Kong in a gradual and orderly manner as provided for in the provisions of the Basic Law. It also noted that the high degree of autonomy of HKSAR is not an inherent power, but one that comes solely from the authorization by the central leadership. The high degree of autonomy is not full autonomy, nor a decentralized power. It is subject to the level of the central leadership’s authorization. There is no such thing called ”residual power” (for public nomination).
The Basic Law of Hong Kong explicitly stipulates that the chief executive and all the members of the Legislative Council must be elected by universal suffrage, making universal suffrage a legal objective.
The decision of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) on August 31 prescribes that 2-3 candidates for the universal suffrage must be nominated by the majority of a 1200 member of Election Committee. The members should come from the four major sectors of “industry, commerce and finance,” ”the professions,” “labor, social services, religious and other sectors” and “members of the Legislative Council, representatives of district boards and Heung Yee Kuk, HKSAR deputies to the NPC, and representatives of HKSAR members of the National Committee of the CPPCC ” in equal proportions. Such a composition is an expression of equal participation and broad representativeness. But the democrats and protestors accuse that this is not representative enough and it even is pro-Beijing.
The decision also requires that the chief executive to be elected by universal suffrage must be a person who loves the country and Hong Kong. As to “Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong”, late Chinese paramount leader Deng Xiaoping stressed that Hong Kong must be governed by the Hong Kong people with patriots as the mainstay, as loyalty to one’s country is the minimum political ethic for political figures. What’s more, the central leadership has the option of appointing or not appointing an elected chief executive leaving no loophole for a non-patriot to usurp the suffrage. The pan-democrats also oppose this. They know they have a skeleton in the wardrobe. In the previous election arrangement, a person might be nominated if 150 members in the Election Committee voted for them. Under the new rule, they have to get majority votes, or minimum 601 votes, from the members. They know well they do not have such high appealing in the 1200-member election committee. So they would rather fight against Beijing’s arrangement for the universal suffrage in 2017 although they never admitted it. It is selfish and against the tide of the age. It is also against the Constitution and the Basic Law.
The decision also draws the roadmap for the election of legislative council members by universal suffrage. It states that this can be gradually realized after the successful conduct of the election of chief executive by universal suffrage.
A Chinese government white paper on Hong Kong published in early June states that the Chinese central leadership continues its support for the HKSAR in developing a system of democratic governance that suits the actual conditions in Hong Kong in a gradual and orderly manner as provided for in the provisions of the Basic Law. It also noted that the high degree of autonomy of HKSAR is not an inherent power, but one that comes solely from the authorization by the central leadership. The high degree of autonomy is not full autonomy, nor a decentralized power. It is subject to the level of the central leadership’s authorization. There is no such thing called ”residual power” (for public nomination).
Foreign and Outside Intervention
The Chinese central government is aware of the fact that a very small number of people in Hong Kong who act in collusion with outside forces to interfere with the implementation of “ one country, two systems.”
In early April this year, former Hong Kong Legislative Council member Martin Lee and former Chief Secretary Anson Chan went to the U.S. to meet Vice President Joe Biden in the White House. This gave the so called democrats in Kong Kong a boost. Three month later, the duo went to London to mobilize support from the former ruler. They met Hugo Swire, minister of state at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Swire urged the pan-democrats to carry out “pro-democracy activities” and pledged to give them support. Unfortunately for the duo, during their meeting with members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the British Parliament, they were taught a lesson. The presenting MPs retorted their accusations by quoting the reports by Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs, UK) that the Chinese central government has not shifted its Hong Kong policy. The MPs also remind the duo that the high degree of autonomy of Scotland is decided by the British parliament and every country require their lawyers, politicians and administrators loyal to their own country. The two were stunned.
Following these steps, the pan-democrats also sent prominent figures to Taiwan to learn from the “Taiwan independence” groups on how to carry out and street movements.
According to Wikileaks and Snowden files, Jimmy Lai, chairman of Next Media Ltd. in Hong Kong, whose tabloids put up pictures day after day of young women wearing little clothing has an intimate relation with the U.S. Consulate-General in Hong Kong. Lai became of paw of the U.S. to meddle in the political affairs of Hong Kong and to control the personnel affairs and major actions of pan-democrats. Eastweek, a Hong Kong monthly reported in June 19 that Lai met former U.S. Vice Defence Minister Paul Wolfowitz, secretly in Hong Kong in May. Wolfowitz was known as his hawkish stand toward China. But Lai played it down by saying meeting an old friend.
Recently Christ Patten, the last unelected Hong Kong governor, published an article on the Financial Times on September 2 claiming moral responsibility to Hong Kong. Showing no repentance for spreading thorns before leaving his post, he is openly challenging China. But what he is advised to sort out his own country’s messy record on the Scotland referendum. It is flawed democratic exercise. The rule of the game was laid down by London. The one million Scottish people residing outside Scotland were intentionally deprived the right to vote. They were most likely to vote for independence. While Foreigners from 27 European countries and from Commonwealth countries residing in Scotland were eligible for voting. As former head of the Conservative Party, Patten must explain his own party’s thinking on democracy in designing the referendum first. He should have this kind of domestic moral responsibility.
The Chinese central government is aware of the fact that a very small number of people in Hong Kong who act in collusion with outside forces to interfere with the implementation of “ one country, two systems.”
In early April this year, former Hong Kong Legislative Council member Martin Lee and former Chief Secretary Anson Chan went to the U.S. to meet Vice President Joe Biden in the White House. This gave the so called democrats in Kong Kong a boost. Three month later, the duo went to London to mobilize support from the former ruler. They met Hugo Swire, minister of state at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Swire urged the pan-democrats to carry out “pro-democracy activities” and pledged to give them support. Unfortunately for the duo, during their meeting with members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the British Parliament, they were taught a lesson. The presenting MPs retorted their accusations by quoting the reports by Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs, UK) that the Chinese central government has not shifted its Hong Kong policy. The MPs also remind the duo that the high degree of autonomy of Scotland is decided by the British parliament and every country require their lawyers, politicians and administrators loyal to their own country. The two were stunned.
Following these steps, the pan-democrats also sent prominent figures to Taiwan to learn from the “Taiwan independence” groups on how to carry out and street movements.
According to Wikileaks and Snowden files, Jimmy Lai, chairman of Next Media Ltd. in Hong Kong, whose tabloids put up pictures day after day of young women wearing little clothing has an intimate relation with the U.S. Consulate-General in Hong Kong. Lai became of paw of the U.S. to meddle in the political affairs of Hong Kong and to control the personnel affairs and major actions of pan-democrats. Eastweek, a Hong Kong monthly reported in June 19 that Lai met former U.S. Vice Defence Minister Paul Wolfowitz, secretly in Hong Kong in May. Wolfowitz was known as his hawkish stand toward China. But Lai played it down by saying meeting an old friend.
Recently Christ Patten, the last unelected Hong Kong governor, published an article on the Financial Times on September 2 claiming moral responsibility to Hong Kong. Showing no repentance for spreading thorns before leaving his post, he is openly challenging China. But what he is advised to sort out his own country’s messy record on the Scotland referendum. It is flawed democratic exercise. The rule of the game was laid down by London. The one million Scottish people residing outside Scotland were intentionally deprived the right to vote. They were most likely to vote for independence. While Foreigners from 27 European countries and from Commonwealth countries residing in Scotland were eligible for voting. As former head of the Conservative Party, Patten must explain his own party’s thinking on democracy in designing the referendum first. He should have this kind of domestic moral responsibility.
The Way Ahead
Hong Kong’s Long term prosperity and stability is an integral part of the Chinese dream. The NPC decision points out, since the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the sovereignty, security and development interests of the country are at stake, there is a need for the political reform in Hong Kong to proceed in a prudent and steady manner. If any activity were carried out derailing the tract of rule of law, only anarchism and cheap populism would rule. Chinese President Xi Jinping said during his meeting with Hong Kong business people in Beijing that the central government’s basic principle and policy toward Hong Kong has not changed and will not change, adding that the central government will unswervingly implement the policy of “One Country, Two Systems” and the Basic Law, and support the steady development of democracy in Hong Kong. Xi expressed the hope that people from all circles in Kong Kong could make concerted efforts for a better future of the region and contribute to the modernization drive and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Hong Kong’s Long term prosperity and stability is an integral part of the Chinese dream. The NPC decision points out, since the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the sovereignty, security and development interests of the country are at stake, there is a need for the political reform in Hong Kong to proceed in a prudent and steady manner. If any activity were carried out derailing the tract of rule of law, only anarchism and cheap populism would rule. Chinese President Xi Jinping said during his meeting with Hong Kong business people in Beijing that the central government’s basic principle and policy toward Hong Kong has not changed and will not change, adding that the central government will unswervingly implement the policy of “One Country, Two Systems” and the Basic Law, and support the steady development of democracy in Hong Kong. Xi expressed the hope that people from all circles in Kong Kong could make concerted efforts for a better future of the region and contribute to the modernization drive and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
(The author is a government official in Beijing)
