Hong Kong pro-democracy leader Martin Lee said that citizens of the
former British colony have no option but to use "people power" in a bid
to pressure Beijing for greater freedom.

Ahead of a mass democracy rally in Hong Kong on Sunday, Lee blamed the
Chinese-administered territory’s chief executive Donald Tsang "for not
reflecting the strong aspirations of the people of Hong Kong to
Beijing."

"The people of Hong Kong have no other option but to show solidarity by
joining together by taking part in peaceful assembly to voice our
aspirations, to let the Beijing leaders know we really want and deserve
democracy," Lee told a public forum in Washington.

Tsang had offered a reform plan but without a timeframe for allowing
Hong Kong citizens to elect their own leaders. He has come under attack
from all 25 pro-democracy legislators who have vowed to vote the plan
down in December.

Successive polls have shown public disquiet over the government’s
reform proposals and a survey by the Hong Kong Baptist University
suggests turnout for the weekend rally could be as high as 200,000
people.

Lee said Beijing was "not going to be too successful" in dampening the
street protests despite offering an invitation to a group of
pro-democracy opposition lawmakers to meet a Chinese official on the
eve of the rally.

When Britain handed sovereignty of Hong Kong back to China in 1997, the
post-colonial constitution, or Basic Law, provided for the eventual
full democratic election of the territory’s leaders.

However, the timing of the provision was hotly debated and led to a
political dispute between Hong Kong democrats and communist leaders in
Beijing.

Beijing reinterpreted the provision in April 2004 and ruled out a swift
transition to full elections by 2007, apparently fearing it could spark
political instability in the rest of China.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during talks with Lee on
Tuesday, emphasized "our conviction that the people of Hong Kong should
determine the pace and scope of political reform in accordance with the
Basic Law."

Rice also told Lee "We support democracy and universal suffrage in Hong Kong."

Lee urged the international community to support the pro-democracy
movement in Hong Kong, reminding them of their backing of a 1984
Sino-British declaration under which Hong Kong was returned to China
with an assurance of a high degree of autonomy except on defence and
foreign policy.

"Ideally, we don’t have to take to the streets but let’s be realistic.
Democracy doesn’t often fall from the sky, it doesn’t find itself in a
silver platter. I think the people of Hong Kong realise that ultimately
it is for us to fight for democracy although any help from overseas is
greatly appreciated," Lee said.

"It is important for the Hong Kong people to know that we are not fighting alone in Hong Kong."

Lee, the founder of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party, the largest political
party there, arrived in Washington on Monday from Europe in a trip to
press for a definite timetable for universal suffrage in Hong Kong.

He said that when the Basic Law was passed in 1990, the people of Hong
Kong were effectively told to wait for 17 years to receive full
democracy but at the last minute "we were told we cannot have it in
2007-2008."

"I have challenged the government to give me any example in the world
where in any country the people agree that democracy is a good thing
and yet it would take 17 years before it can be implemented," Lee said.

He also chided Britain for giving priority to trade with China than pressing for democracy in its former colony.

"Hong Kong in the eyes of Britain, which is a signatory to the
Sino-British Declaration, is nothing more than trade (which) is so
important they would not sacrifice the opportunity to get more business
from China than take a principled stand," he said. "I am happy to say
the US government is different."