China pulls Hong Kong's reins

2004-04-07 13:16

New York - China's new interpretation of the Basic Law, which is meant to guarantee basic human rights to Hong Kong, has pushed back democracy in the former British colony, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday.

The Beijing-promulgated Basic Law is meant to guarantee Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy and guard basic human rights, it said.

"The decision means that electoral reforms can only be initiated by Beijing's hand-picked chief executive (Tung Chee-hwa), and bars Hong Kong's legislature from taking any action without his approval," the rights group said in a statement.

"Issuing this interpretation was a transparent attempt to stifle public debate about greater democracy. Beijing's disinterest in what people in Hong Kong think or want couldn't be more apparent," said Brad Adams, HRW's executive director for Asia.

He said it represents an attempt by Beijing to maintain the "status quo" despite demands by the Hong Kong people for direct elections and greater democracy.

"Continuing with the current system would ignore the provisions in the Basic Law annexes that allow for amendments to Hong Kong's election system after 2007," HRW said.

It also pointed out that the law is meant to allow for a move toward universal suffrage for the election of the territory's chief executive.

"China has no right to do this," Adams added.

Tung Chee-hwa insisted on Tuesday that Beijing's ruling that it must have the final say on any electoral reforms would not damage Hong Kong's "one country, two systems" model.

"I want to emphasise that while there have been calls for democracy... Hong Kong and the Central Government should not be confrontational on this issue," Tung told reporters at a Hong Kong press conference.

- AFP