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| Wednesday, 7 April 2004 |
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China rules has final say on HK electoral laws BEIJING, Tuesday (Reuters) China's parliament ruled on Tuesday that it has the power to decide if Hong Kong needs electoral reforms. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passed an interpretation of Hong Kong's "Basic Law" giving Beijing full control over the territory's political reform, a parliament member told reporters. The move has drawn fire for setting a precedent that some say undermines the rule of law, but Hong Kong parliament member Tsang Hin-chi said the ruling should not cause alarm. "It is very mild and very clear," he said. "People should not blindly oppose it but put the best interests of Hong Kong people first." Hong Kong returned to China in 1997 with the promise of wide-ranging autonomy. While it can change its election laws from 2007, Beijing said its approval must be obtained first. Tsang is the only Hong Kong delegate on the leading Standing Committee of the National People's Congress who had the right to vote on the interpretation. The leaders of China's parliament interpreted two clauses in Hong Kong's constitution as meaning that Beijing has the authority to decide if political changes are needed and can veto anything it does not want. "Beijing is assuming total control over political change in Hong Kong," said Hong Kong political commentator Andy Ho. "It is trying to cool aspirations for democracy here, telling Hong Kong that it has control, but instead of doing that it is heating things up." |
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