Taipei Times: Promises about Hong Kong all empty talk

Just when Beijing and the Hong Kong government were banging their drums to announce a new accountability system under Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa , China's Vice Premier Qian Qichen set the tone for the territory's development in an interview with the Hong Kong media. Qian didn't dare take on the matter of the economy, which is of utmost concern to people in Hong Kong, preferring instead to leave it for them to settle on their own. But in matters of politics and the law, Qian didn't hesitate to point out how Tung should act. His advice touched on Hong Kong's political development, the enactment of a law against subversion in accord with Article 23 of the Basic Law, the Falun Gong and so on.

Qian commended the Legislative Council's (Legco) "small circle" electoral system of functional constituencies and dismissed any idea of implementing popular democracy. Given that the Basic Law stipulates that only 24 out of the 60 members of the Legislative Council be elected on the basis of a popular vote. The other 36 candidates selected by the small circle system are basically under Beijing's control. Thus China controls a majority in the Legislative Council.

But the Basic Law also stipulates that in 2007, when the next election for chief executive is set to take place, the Legco electoral system can be reviewed. Beijing has set very severe conditions on amending the system -- but Qian still felt anxious. With five full years remaining before 2007, a red light has already lit up warning him to "say no to democracy."

Qian also urged Hong Kong to enact a law against subversion in accord with Article 23 of the Basic Law. Previous pressure for such a law came primarily from the National People's Congress. Now the vice premier has personally commented on the matter. Clearly China is feeling anxious. No doubt these feelings stem from a great increase in their sense of insecurity.

Qian made a point of mentioning the problem of banning Falun Gong in Hong Kong. Obviously, Beijing is quite uncomfortable with its inability to suppress the movement and the way those efforts have backfired, causing Falun Gong to develop rapidly internationally.

The public in Hong Kong is now paying attention to the government's plans to draw up an anti-terrorism law, as well as the problem of enacting laws in accord with Article 23 of the Basic Law. This is because China has always accused those who hold dissident opinions of being subversives. After the Sept. 11 attacks in the US, it has further labeled them as "terrorists."

As the "Sinicization" of Hong Kong continues, legislation and law enforcement in Hong Kong will certainly emulate their counterparts in China. The promise that Hong Kong would be unchanged for 50 years has already proven to be empty talk.

At the beginning of the year, Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung repeatedly said that she would retire when her term expired at the end of June. However, she changed her mind after she was summoned to Beijing in February and Qian publicly praised her, urging her to stay at her post.

Tung has reappointed her to head the Department of Justice. She is likely to push forward the legislation on both the anti-terrorism law and the anti-subversion law within her term. She is sure to step down when the expected backlash occurs. But of course the laws will have been passed by that time. The protests of Hong Kong's public will be useless.

Thus, Leung is going to sacrifice herself to make a contribution to the Chinese Communist Party. No wonder Qian said that Tung would not be alone anymore.


Paul Lin is a political commentator based in New York.

TRANSLATED BY ETHAN HARKNESS AND EDDY CHANG
http://www.taipeitimes.com/news/2002/07/02/story/0000146728