Democracy lawmakers to confront Hong Kong chief over reform statement

Democracy lawmakers to confront Hong Kong chief over reform statement
Fri Apr 16, 4:02 AM ET

HONG KONG, (AFP) – Pro-democracy lawmakers say they will use a rare meeting with Hong Kong’s leader to demand an explanation for his submission to China that the territory is not ready for universal suffrage.

Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa will meet 21 pro-democracy legislators a day after telling China in a report that the former British colony should have universal suffrage, but not yet.

Tung’s report, which comes amid a heated debate on when to introduce full democracy to the communist-China-ruled territory, recommends changes to Hong Kong’s political system but sets out nine conditions that must be taken account when considering such changes.

Former Democratic Party chairman Martin Lee, one of the group to meet Tung, said the chief executive had essentially opened the door for China to refuse to allow Hong Kong to elect its leaders in a full election.

“We are going to ask him who gave him this power to lay down the nine rules. He has now paved a way for Beijing to say ‘no’ to universal suffrage,” Lee, who has been at the forefront of the territory’s democracy movement, told AFP.

The democrats said they would also demand why Tung had ignored their calls to consult with legislators and the public before the report was presented to Beijing.

Two of the conditions laid out in Tung’s report said the direction and pace towards universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008 “must pay heed to the views of the central authorities” and “should not be too fast”.

Analysts said the nine principles were hurdles to constitutional development in the former British colony, making universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008 almost impossible.

Tung’s report came only days after Beijing ruled that it holds the ultimate say on any electoral reforms in Hong Kong.