Democracy in Hong Kong

[Randy W]

An interesting tap dance around the subject in the Global Times

 

HK chief must not confront Beijing: experts

 

 

Electing a Hong Kong chief executive who does not seek to challenge the central authorities is crucial to maintaining stability and prosperity in the special administrative region, experts told the Global Times.

. . . under the "one country, two systems" policy, the qualification of a chief executive was defined by late leader Deng Xiaoping as "Love China, love Hong Kong."

"Put in a clear way, it is someone who does not attempt to overthrow the leadership of the Communist Party of China, or change the socialist system in the main body of the country," Qiao said, adding that Beijing would not allow the election of a confrontational candidate if Hong Kong is to see universal suffrage in 2017.

 

. . .

 

"But overruling an elected candidate is not likely to happen," said Zhu, adding that challenging the central government will only incur side effects other than promoting the development of democracy in Hong Kong.

"It would be more meaningful to negotiate on how to improve the democratic procedures during nomination," Zhu added.

 

[HongKong2LA]

Seems like the same old same old, not really anything new unless I'm missing something.

[Randy W]

Seems like the same old same old, not really anything new unless I'm missing something.

 

The news is the occurrence of actual "democratic" elections in Hong Kong, which never occurred even under British rule - along with the involvement of the Communist Party. The Communist Party operates at a MUCH more subtle level than what we were taught in high school. So I found this an interesting tap dance around democracy, with lessons to be learned that might affect the future of "democracy" in China.

 

After all, "It's the Communist Party that brings democracy to China" - in their own words.

 

"But overruling an elected candidate is not likely to happen," said Zhu, adding that challenging the central government will only incur side effects other than promoting the development of democracy in Hong Kong.

 

"It would be more meaningful to negotiate on how to improve the democratic procedures during nomination," Zhu added.

[HongKong2LA]

ok, I see what you're saying now. The devil is in the details. They do have some "democratically elected" officials in HK BUT I'd bet a dollar that the selection of those candidates was done in a way that was something less than a democratic process. As you say, the party operates in a very subtle manner, especially when they want to.

 

What I think will also be interesting to watch is whether or not the party will allow the selection and election of candidates through "universal suffrage" in HK which the National Peoples Congress has said could be done by 2017.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seems like the same old same old, not really anything new unless I'm missing something.

 

The news is the occurrence of actual "democratic" elections in Hong Kong, which never occurred even under British rule - along with the involvement of the Communist Party. The Communist Party operates at a MUCH more subtle level than what we were taught in high school. So I found this an interesting tap dance around democracy, with lessons to be learned that might affect the future of "democracy" in China.

 

After all, "It's the Communist Party that brings democracy to China" - in their own words.

 

>"But overruling an elected candidate is not likely to happen," said Zhu, adding that challenging the central government will only incur side effects other than promoting the development of democracy in Hong Kong.

"It would be more meaningful to negotiate on how to improve the democratic procedures during nomination," Zhu added.

 

[Randy W]

ok, I see what you're saying now. The devil is in the details. They do have some "democratically elected" officials in HK BUT I'd bet a dollar that the selection of those candidates was done in a way that was something less than a democratic process. As you say, the party operates in a very subtle manner, especially when they want to.

 

What I think will also be interesting to watch is whether or not the party will allow the selection and election of candidates through "universal suffrage" in HK which the National Peoples Congress has said could be done by 2017.

 

 

 

 

Exactly!