Beijing sends official to HK over reform quarrel

A top Chinese official yesterday sought to calm anger in Hong Kong over Beijing's decision to assert control over local political reforms, but protesters rebuffed the move with more criticism.

The visit of Qiao Xiaoyang (喬曉陽), deputy secretary-general of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, "is just a superficial gesture," said veteran pro-democracy activist Lui Yuk-lin (雷玉蓮).

The Standing Committee, China's most powerful legislative body, ruled on Tuesday that any changes to Hong Kong's process for selecting its leader and lawmakers must be approved in advance by Beijing.

"It makes no sense for [Qiao] to gather views here after mainland lawmakers have already dictated the rules," Lui said.

Qiao was scheduled to meet with Hong Kong lawmakers and representatives from different sectors later yesterday.

The mainland official was expected to take the unprecedented step of including all pro-democracy lawmakers, some of them branded by Beijing as "traitors."

Critics charge that in Tuesday's ruling, China violated the considerable degree of autonomy that Hong Kong was promised for 50 years after it was returned from British sovereignty in July 1997.

Tempers flared last week as police forcibly removed activists from a protest in front of the Hong Kong government headquarters. Twelve people were slightly injured in the brawl, and some journalists complained they were carried away by authorities.

Lawmakers held a hearing on the incident yesterday, creating an unusual situation where protesters who often demonstrate outside the Legislative Council chambers ended up testifying inside about what they called an overreaction by the police.

"This government is so lame and weak that it has to show its authority by suppressing the protesters, students and reporters by force," said an opposition lawmaker, Lee Cheuk-yan (李卓人).

"It's so regretful," he said.

A police commander, Lee Wai-lam, said police were forced to remove the activists after they refused to disperse, and he said some reporters were manhandled after they "stubbornly" stuck with the crowd.

Activists planned to demonstrate later yesterday when Qiao was set to meet with the lawmakers and others.

Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, holds out democracy as a goal for Hong Kong but sets no timetable, and Beijing insists that it's only explaining the way forward.