US presidential candidate Senator John Kerry accused Beijing of blocking Hong Kong's democratic aspirations -- and vowed to raise the matter with China if elected -- in a newspaper interview published in the territory yesterday.
Beijing hasn't completely fulfilled the autonomy and political rights guaranteed to Hong Kong by its mini-constitution, Kerry said in comments translated in the Chinese-language Sing Tao Daily.
The Democratic Party candidate promised to bring up the issue with Chinese leaders if elected, according to the newspaper.
Kerry also said that if China doesn't respect Hong Kong's guaranteed rights, it sends a negative message to Taiwan.
Hong Kong's leader was chosen by an 800-member committee loyal to Beijing. Ordinary residents only voted for half of their 60 current law-makers, with special interest groups -- which also tend to side with China -- choosing the other 30.
The mini-constitution, called the Basic Law, sets full democracy as an eventual goal but does not give a timetable. Many people want full direct elections, but Beijing in April rejected the idea for the near future.
Critics said that ruling violated Beijing's promise to let Hong Kong largely run its own affairs.
Kerry's stance on the Hong Kong issue appears tougher toward China than the current US administration's.
The US State Department has said it was "disappointed" by Beijing's decision to rule out elections for Hong Kong's next leader in 2007 and for all lawmakers in 2008.
US Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly told reporters in Hong Kong earlier this year that it was too soon to tell if China had violated its autonomy promise to Hong Kong.
Calls to Kerry's campaign office in Washington seeking confirmation of the remarks went unanswered yesterday. Hong Kong's government has not responded to Kerry's remarks. China's liaison office in the territory didn't immediately return a reporter's call, and China's foreign ministry has repeatedly declined comment on the US elections and candidates.
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