Beijing won’t grant Hong Kong real democracy, but it must at least hold Carrie Lam accountable for the political chaos
- It is hard for the authorities to meet anti-extradition protesters’ demand for democracy, but there must be a public accounting of the saga. Hong Kong faces its biggest crisis in 22 years, but no official has assumed responsibility
The mass protests have brought into sharp focus the fundamental flaw in Hong Kong’s relationship with China. Beijing exercises sovereignty, but the people of Hong Kong expect to choose their government.
The huge anti-government protests began with a single demand: withdraw the extradition bill, which if passed would have made it legal for Hong Kong people to be sent to the mainland for trial. The government suspended the bill, but refuses to withdraw it despite widespread demands.
As a result, other demands have emerged, including one not within the power of the Hong Kong administration to grant – for democracy. This was so five years ago during the Occupy movement, and it remains the case today.
The answer, in brief, was no: “The electoral method in Hong Kong is stipulated by the Basic Law … and the relevant supporting laws,” responded spokeswoman Xu Luying. “We must follow the law, now and in the future.”
“But this time,” she said, “I don’t think we could continue to ignore those fundamental and deep-seated problems in Hong Kong society.”
Since the primary issue behind Occupy was election of the chief executive by universal suffrage without pre-selected candidates, a reporter asked if the government planned to “restart political reform”. Lam immediately backed off, saying the deep-seated problems could be economic or political and first must be identified.
Beijing may be ruthless, but it’s not stupid
Hong Kong people were assured that, under the creative formula of “one country, two systems”, they would govern themselves and that existing legal, economic and social systems would remain unchanged for 50 years.
From the Hong Kong perspective, China hasn’t lived up to its promises. Since 1997, China has hand-picked Hong Kong’s executives. As a result, they are perceived as Beijing’s man or woman in the city rather than leaders whose job is to defend Hong Kong and the interests of its people.
The business community has responded by calling for action. The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce issued a statement on July 22 calling on the government to withdraw, not merely suspend, the extradition bill.
Hong Kong has to end this leaderless drift and save itself
On July 30, Lam hosted a rare lunch for more than 40 representatives of international and local chambers of commerce. The meeting, according to a press release, was “to exchange views on Hong Kong’s challenges and opportunities” and aimed at “formulating policy measures in the upcoming Policy Address”. The address is delivered annually in October.
China will not allow the kind of democracy that other countries take for granted. Beijing fears that if it grants Hong Kong genuine democracy, provinces across the mainland will make similar demands, rendering the country uncontrollable by the Communist Party.
Yuen Long violence exposes villages’ turf mentality
The system isn’t working. Hong Kong faces its biggest crisis in 22 years, but no official has assumed responsibility. Beijing is shielding the top person responsible, the chief executive. For proper governance in Hong Kong, Beijing must support a genuine system of accountability – which is possible with “one country, two systems”.