The Hindu : International : Beijing will have the final say, Hong Kong told

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 07, 2004

International

International

Beijing will have the final say, Hong Kong told

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE, APRIL 6. China today signalled its political will to determine the course of Hong Kong's future. It will have a decisive say over any proposal from Hong Kong for amending the norms of `selecting' the territory's Chief Executive. This `interpretation' of the Hong Kong Basic Law was adopted by the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (Parliament) at a meeting in Beijing today.

Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. The NPC's powerful panel endorsed another significant `interpretation', setting the framework for adoption of any changes Hong Kong's political community might propose on the formation of its Legislative Council. Any amendment should be `reported' to the NPC panel.

The objective of the intervention was to clarify the constitutional parameters on how Hong Kong, which came under Chinese sovereignty from British colonial rule over six years ago, should be administered in the period beyond 2007.

The `interpretations' can impinge on the degree of `democratisation' of the Hong Kong polity.

This critical issue forms the nucleus of an evolving agenda of the `pro-democracy' protesters in Hong Kong.

The U.S. too has made periodic comments in support of the `pro-democracy' activists. Beijing has consistently reminded Washington that Hong Kong's "constitutional development'' is entirely China's internal affair.

Hong Kong's official in charge of constitutional affairs, Stephen Lam, indicated that the `reaction' from the people of the territory would be "closely watched''.

The Basic Law defines post-colonial Hong Kong's political equation with China's Central Government.

Under the principle of "one country, two systems'', Hong Kong was granted "a high degree of autonomy'' to retain its distinctive political and economic systems for 50 years from the date of restoration of China's sovereignty; and 2007 would mark the completion of the first decade of the period so specified.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International