China sets limits on 2017 Hong Kong popular vote, dismaying activists
Setting up a showdown with democracy activists, Chinas top legislative body said Sunday that Hong Kong residents can vote directly for their next leader in 2017 but that only two or three candidates will be allowed and all must be approved by special nominating committee.
Tension has been building for months over rules for the 2017 election of a new chief executive of the largely autonomous former British territory, which returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 under a framework known as one country, two systems. The drama has mounted this summer amid a series of rallies and counter-rallies, petition drives and even an unofficial vote that drew nearly 800,000 participants.
The Basic Law outlining terms of the 1997 handover granted Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy for 50 years, and the regions 7 million residents enjoy greater freedom of speech, assembly and other rights than their counterparts in the Communist-run mainland.
Until now, the citys chief executive has been selected by a 1,200-member panel regarded as largely pro-Beijing. But the Basic Law provides for a universal suffrage system to be adopted as soon as the 2017 election, and democracy activists have been pushing for balloting that measures up to what they call international standards for free and fair election.
Activists say one-person, one-vote will be meaningless if candidates all have to be approved by a nominating committee they see as beholden to Beijings interests. Instead, theyve been pushing for an open nominations system, allowing any candidate with a modicum of public support to join the race. If that doesnt happen, they have proposed blockading Hong Kongs central business district to press their demands.
Beijing, however, contends that an open nominations system is counter to the Basic Law. And mainland officials and some Hong Kong business groups have warned that democracy sit-ins would throw the Asian financial hub into chaos and gridlock.
In announcing the elections framework Sunday in Beijing, Li Fei, deputy secretary general of the National Peoples Congress standing committee, said an open-nominations system would create a chaotic society.
Many Hong Kongers have wasted a lot of time discussing things that are not appropriate, he told a news conference.
The committee, in announcing its decision, said authorities must proceed in a prudent and steady manner because the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the sovereignty, security and development interests of the country are at stake.
But activists argue that a failure to forcefully push forward with democratic reforms constitutes an even greater threat to the territorys long-term prosperity and stability, noting that the citys status as a world financial center is due substantially to its Western-style legal system and liberties. They point to a growing wealth gap, sky-high housing costs and increasing influence from the mainland as eroding their quality of life and say the current chief executive, C.Y. Leung, has been unresponsive to citizens needs.
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China sets limits on 2017 Hong Kong popular vote, dismaying activists