China asserts control over Hong Kong election

BEIJING -- China tightened the leash yesterday on Hong Kong activists who are trying to speed a push toward full democracy, saying Beijing will decide how far and how fast the territory can move toward direct elections.

The announcement angered prodemocracy campaigners in Hong Kong, some of whom said it might trigger greater public discontent.

In a ruling by the National People's Congress, Beijing said it had the sole right to interpret how Hong Kong could apply its "Basic Law," or mini-constitution, to hold its elections.

"The central authorities have the power to decide such matters," said Qiao Xiaoyang, the deputy secretary general of the congress's standing committee.

Qiao said that Beijing shared the goal of eventual direct elections for Hong Kong, one of the freest cities in East Asia, but that China would closely oversee "gradual and orderly progress" toward that goal. All proposed political revisions must be submitted for approval to the National People's Congress, he said.

Beijing has watched with a "very high degree of concern" for the past nine months as street rallies erupted in Hong Kong amid emotional public debate about the city's future. It felt it had "no option but to come out" with an interpretation of the territory's charter, Qiao said. He called Beijing's authority over Hong Kong "simply indisputable."

Hong Kong, a region of 7 million people, returned to China's control in 1997 after 150 years as a British territory. Beijing pledged that Hong Kong's residents would retain wide-ranging autonomy under the doctrine of "One Country, Two Systems."

Hong Kong residents have no voice in choosing their territory's chief executive, but they will be permitted to pick 30 of 60 legislators in September, an increase from the 24 they picked last November. Democracy groups are demanding direct elections of the chief executive, whom Beijing appoints, and all lawmakers by 2007.

Activists decried yesterday ruling as a move to dampen democratic aspirations.

"The message is very clear: They are the master. We are the slaves," said Law Yuk-kai, the director of Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor and a widely known activist.

"There's no real `One Country, Two Systems,' " he said in a telephone interview. "It's always `One Country, One-and-a-Half Systems' or 1.05 systems."

In a news conference at the end of a five-day session of the National People's Congress's standing committee, Qiao said Beijing had been extremely cautious in deciding on Hong Kong's affairs. The territory has widespread freedom, he added.

"That autonomy is higher, much higher, than the power enjoyed by the mainland provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities," he said.

Qiao did not rule out direct elections in 2007, but he emphasized that any reforms must pass through the National People's Congress.

Frictions over Hong Kong have strained generally warm relations between Beijing and Washington. Chinese officials say US diplomats in Hong Kong have stirred up trouble.

For their part, American officials offer outspoken support for Hong Kong's activists, saying greater political freedom would help ensure the territory's continued prosperity. Some 50,000 US citizens live in the territory, and at least 1,100 American companies have offices or regional headquarters there. US investments in the city total $38.5 billion.

The Bush administration "strongly supports the Hong Kong people's desire for democracy, electoral reform, and universal suffrage in Hong Kong," State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said Friday. "It is important that the people of Hong Kong be permitted to determine the pace and scope of constitutional developments."