Seeking to ease rising political tensions, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa (
Tung called the session "useful" and said he looks forward to "more communication and less dispute" with the pro-democracy lawmakers. But Tung declined to take questions from reporters.
PHOTO:AFP
Lawmakers who met with Tung in his office said he had refused to give them any timetable for starting discussions on political reforms. They attacked his decision a day earlier to send a recommendation to Beijing on the matter without reflecting the will of the Hong Kong public.
"The spirit of this meeting was polite but unhappy," said Yeung Sum (
"He himself is an obstacle to full democracy," said lawmaker Frederick Fung (
Tung angered many in Hong Kong on Thursday by sending a report to Beijing that suggested the territory's electoral systems should be reformed in time for the leadership election in 2007 that will choose his successor, as well as the 2008 Legislative Council elections.
Critics say he acted hastily and without consulting the public -- just days after Beijing asserted control over any political reforms here by saying it must approve any changes in advance.
Tung recommended nine guidelines for political reforms that his opponents claim have effectively killed any hopes of full democracy in the near term.
Yeung said the pro-democracy lawmakers "can't accept" the way Tung handled the matter. They urged him to send Beijing a supplementary report that would outline the public's democratic aspirations, but he refused.
Tung's proposal on Thursday contained no specifics for change, but he said there was no point in going into any details unless the Chinese government agrees it will be possible to modify Hong Kong's electoral methods.
The English-language daily The Standard said: "Tung roadblocks blunt vote hopes." However, Bei jing's allies defended Tung.
The pro-China daily Ta Kung Pao said that by taking an initiative within days of Beijing's ruling, Tung had shown he was "handling the issue on political reform with an active attitude, with no delay."
The Wen Wei Po daily lashed out at pro-democracy politicians, saying their pleas for more consultation were a delaying tactic to help them "fish in troubled waters and gain votes in the September elections."
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
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