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Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, in an unusual criticism of the Communist Party leadership in Beijing, said Friday that China should embrace democracy, and start by allowing free elections in Hong Kong.

Ma is often viewed at home as too friendly toward China, but his comments reflect local support for the tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents who launched democracy protests Sept. 27 in the semiautonomous Chinese territory, where they have shut down streets for more than a week.

Thirty years ago, when Deng Xiaoping was pushing for reform and opening up in the mainland, he famously proposed letting some people get rich first, Ma said in his speech on Taiwans National Day, referring to the economic reformist who ruled China from 1978 to 1992. So why couldnt they do the same thing in Hong Kong, and let some people go democratic first?

Now that the 1.3 billion people on the [Chinese] mainland have become moderately wealthy, they will of course wish to enjoy greater democracy and rule of law. Such a desire has never been a monopoly of the West, but is the right of all humankind, Ma said.

China regained sovereignty over Hong Kong from Britain in 1997, pledging a one country, two systems form of rule that would give the world financial center a high degree of autonomy for 50 years. Authorities in Beijing have long advocated the same kind of model to reunite Taiwan with the mainland.

Taiwan, 100 miles off Chinas southeastern coast across the Taiwan Strait, is ethnically Chinese but has been self-governed since the 1940s. Beijing maintains a claim of sovereignty over the island of 23 million and has threatened to take it by force.

Mas support for Hong Kong protesters illustrates a sense of urgency among many Taiwanese to resist reintegration with China even as the two sides negotiate trade and investment deals, which some fear will allow Beijing to control the island.

Taiwanese are afraid that if you cant sustain one country, two systems in Hong Kong, then it wouldnt work here, and thats why Taiwan is paying attention, said Ku Chung-hua, 58, a standing board member of Citizen Congress Watch, a group that monitors Taiwans Legislature. The Hong Kong problem makes people here think one country, two systems is a deception.

Mas comments follow a call from Taiwans chief opposition party to allow democratic elections in Hong Kong. Since the Hong Kong demonstrations began, two rallies one exceeding 3,000 people have been held in Taipei, Taiwans capital, to show support for the protesters.

On the issue of ties with the mainland, Ma has often stood apart from the opposition and protest groups, seeking to ease tension and build economic ties with Beijing. But his governments China policy body said last week that Beijing should seek consensus with Hong Kong on how to run the territory. About 70% of Taiwanese oppose being ruled Hong Kong-style under Beijing, the agency said.

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Taiwan's leader urges China to wade into democracy, Hong Kong-first