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HK pro-democracy lawmaker defends trip to Washington

Under-fire Hong Kong legislator Martin Lee (李柱銘) compared himself to US civil rights leader Martin Luther King yesterday as he defended a decision to campaign for democracy in the US.

"Martin Luther King had a dream -- my name is Martin too and I have two dreams," he said on Hong Kong cable TV news from Washington.

"I have a dream of democracy in Hong Kong and to be able to return to China," he said.

The Democratic Party legislator has caused a storm back home and in China by flying to the US to address a hastily convened Senate East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee hearing on democracy in the territory.

Lee -- who is traveling with fellow pro-democracy Legislator James To (涂謹申) and and human-rights activist Lee Cheuk-yan (李卓人) -- was branded a "clown" and a "dreamer" by Chinese officials who say he has brought foreign interference into China's internal affairs.

Lee has said he would tell US senators that the people of Hong Kong want full popular elections from 2007, but that he would not ask them for help.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry weighed into the fray yesterday, warning the US to stay out of its business.

"We, the Chinese government, resolutely oppose any attempts to interfere in its internal affairs," said foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao (劉建超).

"Hong Kong's democratic issue is China's internal affairs, and the Basic Law has earnestly safeguarded the democracy of Hong Kong and its people's democratic rights," Liu said.

"The Chinese people are wise enough to handle Hong Kong affairs according to the law, and any random comments from external forces are not necessary," he said.

The foreign ministry also posted the statement on its Web site (www.fmprc.gov.cn).

Earlier, senior officials berated Lee and his mission.

"A few people always like going overseas to ask for help," news reports quoted the vice-minister of commerce as saying before branding them "clowns."

Lee's mission comes amid a heated debate over the future of democracy in the territory.

Democrats want full elections of the chief executive by 2007.

But Beijing has quashed hopes for an early transition to democracy, overshadowing the debate with a discussion about patriotism and whether or not democrats like Lee would be considered patriotic enough to hold office.
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