Hong Kong Rattled By Beijing Ruling On Political Reform

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

09 April 2004

Despite Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's suggestion that Tuesday's ruling by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on political reform in Hong Kong is unlikely to affect the "one country, two systems" arrangement between the territory and mainland China, a pall has been cast over the jurisdiction's political system.

Earlier this week, the Standing Committee asserted that political reform in Hong Kong is the sole prerogative of the Chinese central government, a move which observers suggested was effectively designed to amend Hong Kong's Basic Law by increments.

Speaking following the delivery of the ruling on Tuesday, Tung attempted to reassure the populace, explaining that:

"There are calls for democracy in the society, but Hong Kong should not place itself in opposition to the central government. The central government is actually very concerned about the development of democracy in Hong Kong."

Chief Secretary for Administration, Donald Tsang attempted to back the Chief Executive up, observing that:

"It also does not mean that the central authority does not respect the opinions of the Hong Kong people."

However, according to reports in the regional media, critics have argued that the ruling deprives the jurisdiction of any say over its political future, and that the door has been left open for further reinterpretations of Hong Kong law by the Chinese authorities.

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