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Chen explains why Taiwanese reject`one China, two systems' formula

A major reason for Taiwan's refusal to accept the "one China, two systems" idea is that Taiwan-ese directly elect their leader, while Hong Kong's head is just "a puppet of Beijing," President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday.

During a meeting with US Congressman Doug Ose, Chen noted that Tung Chee-hwa (董建華), the current Hong Kong chief executive, has just a 16-percent support rating among Hong Kong residents.

"And he was handpicked by Beijing to run for a re-election in which only 800 people are eligible to vote," Chen said.

The president cited an article entitled "Two elections" appearing in the Washington Post on Dec. 23. The article noted that Taiwanese are now accustomed to democratic elections and have made the ruling DPP the biggest party in the legislature.

"And the other election the story mentioned is the election of Hong Kong's chief executive this March," the president said.

"What's interesting is that those 800 voters are also chosen by Beijing," Chen added, "and Beijing even has the final veto power on the chief executive, according to a law passed under Tung's administration."

Chen stressed that in contrast with Hong Kong, Taiwanese elect their own president and legislature with "love and votes."
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