HK Democracy

While we remain transfixed with the troubles in Iraq, the nuclear issue with Iran, and keeping the peace in Afghanistan, we should keep an eye on the progress of democracy in one of the financial centers of the world, Hong Kong.

On Sunday, organizers estimate that over 250,000 people took to the streets to demand full democracy that was promised when the UK handed its former colony back to China eight years ago. Though police said only 63,000 have gathered, witnesses say that there were far more by the end of the rally. In any case, this is another warning to the government administration under territory's chief executive, Donald Tsang, and to the central government in Beijing that a timetable must be published for universal suffrage.

A few concessions might be given by the central government, but it is very doubtful that universal suffrage would be announced in any timetable. When there were mass protests in 2003 and 2004, Beijing offered to enlarge the 800-strong election committee charged with selecting a new leader. New proposals such as increasing the size of the legislature are not enough to satisfy the demands of the protestors.

According to the island's constitutional document, or Basic Law, it contains provisions for ultimately selecting the leader by universal suffrage. China has so far refused to implement such reforms, and there is very little chance of something happening in 2007 when the next chief executive is selected. Perhaps they are afraid that direct elections might encourage citizens in nearby Guangdong Province to demand a say in their local villages and cities. If these mass protests continue, would Beijing continue to ignore them? Chief executive Donald Tsang is probably the closest ally that Hong Kong has, but he needs to maintain a fine balance between keeping the people of this former British colony and his superiors in Beijing happy. This person wonders if when HK reaches their 10th anniversary after the handover, would democracy groups stage a bigger protest and disrupt official ceremonies marking the event? Is it possible that Beijing may try to suppress these demonstrations?

Forbes - Hong Kong protest organizers say 250,000 joined march

BBC - Thousands march for HK democracy