2008 Woodie Awards
Democracy stalls in Hong Kong
Jennifer Atchinson
Issue date: 1/17/08 Section: World Views
This year China will be hosting the Olympics. Undoubtedly China is seeking to both humanize and to epitomize the values of the government. Many Congressional members, such as Chris Smith (Republican from New Jersey), have promised to use the event as a platform to voice American concerns over Chinese domestic policy. Among these complaints are internet censorship, noted human rights abuses, and the Hong Kong issue. The Hong Kong issue has indisputably moved up the list of international grudges since the December 29 announcement that China was stalling the development of democratic government in the contentious isle until 2017.
In essence, China announced that it would require two more terms, five years a piece, for the installed "Chief Executive." China unilaterally appoints this "Chief Executive," and so, in the eyes of many, this leader is little more than a puppet of the mainland government. Those two terms should be completed by 2017, but even thereafter all candidates, for whatever semblance of popular democracy China will allow Hong Kong to practice, must be approved by the communist government. These direct elections will have little impact until 2020, at the very earliest, until which point only a handful of legislative seats are democratically voted upon by the citizens of Hong Kong. The remaining seats are filled with candidates backed by China.
While the global community has condemned this political maneuvering, Hong Kong itself is likely to cause little in the way of ruckus- particularly as the Olympics draw near. The people were cautioned by the current "Chief Executive" (Tsang) that mass protest or debate may result in a further hampering of democratic efforts.
Hong Kong has thus been caught in the midst of a Catch-22. If the people rally for democracy during the Olympics, while the entire world turns its attention to the east, the publicity will be both unequalled in magnitude and in its potential outreach for international support. However, such a disturbance, and any ensuing negative media hype, will not go unnoticed by the mainland.
Hong Kong might expect that a vengeful China will take further steps to limit the effect of democracy and popular participation. After all, it sets a dangerous precedent for the emerging superpower if a small isle is able to dictate its own liberal mandates. Perhaps, in the end, Hong Kong might be best served by silent resistance, rather than overt confrontation.
In essence, China announced that it would require two more terms, five years a piece, for the installed "Chief Executive." China unilaterally appoints this "Chief Executive," and so, in the eyes of many, this leader is little more than a puppet of the mainland government. Those two terms should be completed by 2017, but even thereafter all candidates, for whatever semblance of popular democracy China will allow Hong Kong to practice, must be approved by the communist government. These direct elections will have little impact until 2020, at the very earliest, until which point only a handful of legislative seats are democratically voted upon by the citizens of Hong Kong. The remaining seats are filled with candidates backed by China.
While the global community has condemned this political maneuvering, Hong Kong itself is likely to cause little in the way of ruckus- particularly as the Olympics draw near. The people were cautioned by the current "Chief Executive" (Tsang) that mass protest or debate may result in a further hampering of democratic efforts.
Hong Kong has thus been caught in the midst of a Catch-22. If the people rally for democracy during the Olympics, while the entire world turns its attention to the east, the publicity will be both unequalled in magnitude and in its potential outreach for international support. However, such a disturbance, and any ensuing negative media hype, will not go unnoticed by the mainland.
Hong Kong might expect that a vengeful China will take further steps to limit the effect of democracy and popular participation. After all, it sets a dangerous precedent for the emerging superpower if a small isle is able to dictate its own liberal mandates. Perhaps, in the end, Hong Kong might be best served by silent resistance, rather than overt confrontation.
Be the first to comment on this story