Hong Kong democracy activists yesterday hit back at comments from Britain welcoming Beijing’s plans for limited voting rights in the territory, describing them as “shameful” and “cowardly.”
Activists in the former British colony had their hopes for genuine democracy dashed after China announced on Sunday that Hong Kong’s next leader would be vetted by a pro-Beijing committee.
In a statement late on Thursday, Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We welcome the confirmation that China’s objective is for the election of Hong Kong’s chief executive through universal suffrage.”
The office said there was no perfect model, adding that it recognized that the “detailed terms” of the decision would disappoint people pushing for a more open nomination process.
Democracy activists were dismayed by London’s response, which they view as a pliant statement meant to appease a major trade partner at the expense of its former subjects.
“I have one word for that: shameful,” democracy campaigner Martin Lee (李柱銘) said.
“They won’t dare say anything that might possibly offend Beijing,” Lee said, adding that Britain had every right to question China’s decision.
Pro-democracy legislator Claudia Mo (毛孟靜) was equally scathing.
“I’m very disappointed,” Mo said.
“No one is asking Britain to announce ... any punitive measures, just to speak up, speak loud and speak up,” she said. “They couldn’t even do that. It’s so cowardly.”
“The UK government today is more keen about having a bigger share in the China pie,” she added.
Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 under an agreement that allows civil liberties not seen on the mainland, including free speech and the right to protest.
London’s statement contrasted with comments from the US earlier this week, which took a more robust stance toward Beijing.
Britain’s response comes after Chinese authorities on Monday demanded that London drop an inquiry into the progress of democratic reforms in Hong Kong, accusing it of “highly inappropriate” interference in its affairs, the BBC reported.
In fresh comments yesterday, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned Britain against any further meddling.
“Hong Kong’s affairs, including constitutional reform, belong to China’s domestic affairs. No foreign country has the right to make irresponsible remarks or interfere in any form,” spokesman Qin Gang (秦剛) said.
Lee, along with Anson Chan (陳方安生), a former No. 2 official for the territory, traveled to Britain in July to urge London not to turn a blind eye to “attacks on freedoms that were enshrined in the 1997 handover to China.”
They had also traveled to the US in April, where US Vice President Joe Biden called for democratic rule in Hong Kong.
The Chinese National People’s Congress Standing Committee said on Sunday that candidates for Hong Kong’s leadership election in 2017 must be chosen by a pro-Beijing committee.
Candidates must win the backing of more than half of the committee members, with only two or three ultimately allowed to run for office.
Democracy activists say the setup will effectively ensure that only pro-Beijing candidates can contest the vote and have vowed a new “era of civil disobedience” to fight for greater democratic freedoms in the semi-autonomous financial hub.
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