CHINA-NPC NEWSER/HONG KONG China slams door shut on full Hong Kong democracy in 2017 vote
Record ID:
1377179
CHINA-NPC NEWSER/HONG KONG China slams door shut on full Hong Kong democracy in 2017 vote
- Title: CHINA-NPC NEWSER/HONG KONG China slams door shut on full Hong Kong democracy in 2017 vote
- Date: 31st August 2014
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (AUGUST 31, 2014) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** OFFICIALS WALKING IN FOR NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS OFFICIALS SEATED FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS STANDING COMMITTEE, LI FEI, SAYING: "The National People's Congress Standing Committee's decision was a significant one made at an important moment for the development of Hong Kong's democratic system, based on correctly implementing the Hong Kong Basic Law, and the obligations listed in the Method for Selecting the Chief Executive, and with the spirit of being highly responsible for the country and Hong Kong. This is a legal, fair and reasonable decision. It is a dignified, prudent decision, and its legal effect is beyond doubt." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS STANDING COMMITTEE, LI FEI, SAYING: "There are some people in Hong Kong who do not stress holding universal suffrage according to the Basic Law, but repeatedly advocate adopting the so-called international standards. In fact, I see those people's so-called international standards are tailored for themselves, they are not the international standards, but their personal standards." MAN TAKING PHOTOS OF NEWS CONFERENCE ON MOBILE PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS STANDING COMMITTEE, LI FEI, SAYING: "If those people veto the amendments like they did before out of their personal interests, Hong Kong would not only miss an opportunity of democratic development, but more importantly, Hong Kong could face a longer term of political disputes, holding back the government's efforts to resolve economic and people's livelihood issues, let alone in some cases, some people in Hong Kong could instigate illegal and extreme activities that could have negative impact on Hong Kong's business environment." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 16th September 2014 09:40
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- Country: China
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA9POPOG9OW2FN54VIB73XBBCYT
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: China's parliament said on Sunday (August 31) it will tightly control the nomination of candidates for a landmark election in Hong Kong in 2017, a move likely to trigger mass protests in the city's central business district by disappointed democracy activists.
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) said it had endorsed a framework to let only two or three candidates run in a 2017 vote for Hong Kong's next leader. All candidates must first obtain majority backing from a nominating committee likely to be stacked with Beijing loyalists.
The relatively tough decision by the NPC - China's final arbiter on the city's democratic affairs - makes it almost impossible for opposition democrats to get on the ballot.
"The National People's Congress Standing Committee's decision was a significant one made at an important moment for the development of Hong Kong's democratic system, based on correctly implementing the Hong Kong Basic Law, and the obligations listed in the Method for Selecting the Chief Executive, and with the spirit of being highly responsible for the country and Hong Kong. This is a legal, fair and reasonable decision. It is a dignified, prudent decision, and its legal effect is beyond doubt," Li Fei, the deputy secretary general of the NPC standing committee, told reporters after the decision.
Hundreds of "Occupy Central" activists, who demand Beijing allow a real, free election, will on Sunday evening hold a small protest to formally launch their campaign of civil disobedience, that will climax with a blockade the city's business district.
Political reform has been a constant source of friction between Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement and the mainland since the former British colony was handed back to Communist Party rulers in 1997.
In nearby Macau, another special administrative region, leader and sole candidate Fernando Chui was "re-elected" on Sunday by a select panel of nearly 400 largely pro-China loyalists in the tiny but wealthy former Portuguese colony.
On the surface, the National People's Congress' decision is a breakthrough that endorses the framework for the first direct vote by a Chinese city to choose its leader. Beijing is already hailing it as a milestone in democratic reform.
However, by tightly curbing nominations for the 2017 leadership poll, some democrats said Beijing was pushing a Chinese-style version of "fake" democracy.
Li dismissed the democrats' accusations.
"There are some people in Hong Kong who do not stress holding universal suffrage according to the Basic Law, but repeatedly advocate adopting the so-called international standards. In fact, I see those people's so-called international standards are tailored for themselves, they are not the international standards, but their personal standards," said Li.
The NPC statement said all nominations would be carried out according to "democratic procedures" and each candidate would need "the endorsement of more than half" of a nominating committee that will be similar in composition to an existing 1,200-person election committee stacked with Beijing loyalists.
The proposed electoral framework will still have to be endorsed by two-thirds of Hong Kong's 70-seat legislature. With pro-democracy lawmakers holding more than a third of the seats, the proposal will likely be shelved.
Senior Chinese officials have repeatedly warned activists against their "illegal" protests and about possible consequences.
"If those people veto the amendments like they did before out of their personal interests, Hong Kong would not only miss an opportunity of democratic development, but more importantly, Hong Kong could face a longer term of political disputes, holding back the government's efforts to resolve economic and people's livelihood issues, let alone in some cases, some people in Hong Kong could instigate illegal and extreme activities that could have negative impact on Hong Kong's business environment," Li warned.
Some key members of the pro-democracy movement, including media magnate Jimmy Lai, have also come under pressure in the run-up to the Chinese parliamentary decision.
On Friday (August 29), China also repeated its warning against foreign interference, saying it will not tolerate the use of Hong Kong "as a bridgehead to subvert and infiltrate the mainland".
The Occupy Central movement has not yet won broad support among Hong Kong's middle class, who are concerned about antagonising China and disruptions to business, but strong measures by China or the Hong Kong police could change that.
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