HK media and opposition slam China's interference

Hong Kong's media and democrats yesterday slammed China's decision to amend the territory's constitution to change the length of term of its next leader, saying the move undermined the city's rule of law.

Beijing ruled on Wednesday that the former British colony's next leader should serve for two years instead of the normal five laid down in Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law.

It had been called on to make a ruling after former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa (董建華) resigned last month with two years remaining of his second term.

Calling Beijing's decision "unnecessary" and "unreasonable," the Chinese-language Apple Daily newspaper said "it is impossible for [China] to hide the long-term damage this will have on the rule of law."

"The failure to adhere to the clear wording of the Basic Law has dealt a blow to Hong Kong's rule of law and confidence in the `one country, two systems' concept," that promises a high degree of autonomy in the city, the South China Morning Post said in an editorial.

Pro-democracy activist Carl Ching said he had dropped a legal challenge against the Hong Kong government's moves to shorten the term of the next chief executive as it would have no standing after Beijing's decision.

"The decision will give me no chance to win as the court will only follow the ruling by the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress," Ching said.

Pro-democracy Legislator Albert Chan (陳偉業) said he was likely to drop his own legal challenge.

"When I filed the case, I was hoping that the dispute can be settled according to the Hong Kong legal system but it seems that the central government will not even give Hong Kong people a chance.

"I feel disappointed," he said. "This takes away our legal rights and it showed [China's] disrespect to the law ... It will be difficult for me to win the case now."

The Hong Kong government decided after Tung's resignation that his successor should serve only the remaining two years of his term.

When the democrats challenged this as going against the territory's constitution, the government asked Beijing to intervene, fearing the court cases could delay the planned selection of a new chief executive on July 10.