Hong Kong's pro-Beijing politicians and businessmen appear to
be backing away from their support of full democracy in 2012 after the
Central Liaison Office and SAR government officials told them that
pushing for 2012 adds fuel to the fire.
Meanwhile, pro-democracy lawmakers remain preoccupied with a
referendum on public opinion for universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008
despite Beijing's advice to its allies to retreat.
Pro-Beijing lawmakers find themselves in a predicament, having
promised electors universal suffrage in 2012. The central government
ADVERTISEMENT
|
now tells them it is not prepared to go along with their aspirations.
To divert public and media attention, these loyalists are focusing on
electoral arrangements for 2007 and 2008. Concrete, detailed proposals
have been submitted to the Task Force on Constitutional Development to
seek a realistic consensus for an improved electoral structure.
Ironically, while the pro-Beijing camp is backing away from full
democracy in 2012, two democrats have called for their allies to give
up their daydream of universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008. It is ironic
that these democratic leaders are keener than Central Liaison
officials to dissuade democrats.
At the end of last month, Chan Kam-lam of the Democratic Alliance for
the Betterment of Hong Kong reiterated a plan to amend the party
platform for the third time to promise full democracy in 2012 as the
DAB did while campaigning.
The next day, party spokesman Lau Kwong-wah changed the priority on
electoral arrangements; 2012 was set aside without much explanation.
Last Saturday, party vice-chairman and former Exco member Tam
Yiu-chung avoided all mention of 2012 in an election forum.
At a recent private gathering at the Central Liaison Office, Rita Fan,
president of the Legislative Council, was strongly criticised for her
support of full democracy in 2012.
Since the April 26 decision by the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress ruling out universal suffrage in 2007-08, the
central government has been restrained on the political front. Efforts
have been made to assuage public discontent, with Beijing mute until
recently on calls for full democracy in 2012. If not for the
referendum saga, constitutional reforms would proceed according to
schedule.
Some democrats say the pursuit of full democracy should not be for
immediate gain. Idealism and pragmatism are two different forces.
While rebellious democrats are using the referendum to keep public
aspirations for full democracy on the boil, their efforts so far have
netted them little. But some pragmatic democrats believe any decision
by Beijing to delay universal suffrage will awaken political forces in
Hong Kong.
Beijing finds it appealing for the Democrats to fight for universal
suffrage in 2007 and 2008 because it produces political deadlock and
little else. Recently, the SAR deputy of the National People's
Congress and founding chairman of the Liberal Party, Allen Lee,
retreated from supporting universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008. As late
as the July 1 rally, Lee had been a vocal supporter of full democracy.
He reprimanded the central government over the rejection of universal
suffrage for the 2007 and 2008 elections.
But six months later Lee chastises democrats for refusing to accept
the truth and blinding their supporters.
Anthony Cheung, despite his departure from the Democratic Party and
subsequent retreat to the academic world, offered earlier this month
to become a middleman in an attempt to reach consensus in the
pan-democratic camp but received a cool response.
Although Lee and Cheung, as pragmatists, are in the minority in the
pan-democratic camp, they have failed to make the rebellious democrats
realise the significance of a realistic target for full democracy.
A consensus of all parties and politicians for 2012 universal suffrage
is a powerful bargaining chip for full discussions with Beijing on
constitutional reform.
Pessimists like Shiu Sin-por of the One Country Two Systems Research
Institute believe Beijing will refuse any timetable or commit to any
changes if democrats insist on challenging the central government's
authority instead of attempting to build up trust.
If they continue their confrontation, Beijing instead will view them
as attempting to encroach on national sovereignty and seeking to turn
Hong Kong ungovernable.
carrie.chan2@globalchina.com
All rights reserved.
END