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Report: direct HK vote nixed

Beijing will "very likely" rule out demands for full democracy in Hong Kong by 2007, a newspaper reported yesterday.

China has informed the Hong Kong government that the mainland's most powerful legislative committee will "very likely" not allow the territory to hold direct elections by 2007, the Apple Daily tabloid said, quoting unidentified lawmakers who were reportedly briefed by Hong Kong officials.

Many here are demanding the right to choose their leader by 2007 and all their lawmakers by 2008. This former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, has a separate administration, and its mini-constitution sets full democracy as an eventual goal.

Beijing, however, has insisted that any political reforms must be gradual. The central government will likely point out that having direct elections within three years goes against that principle, the newspaper reported.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress will make an announcement on the issue Monday, after considering a report by Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa (董建華).

The committee already ruled earlier that any electoral reforms here must be approved by Beijing in advance.

Hong Kong officials told opposition lawmakers about Beijing's intention ahead of time in the hope of persuading them against any radical action, the newspaper quoted the pro-democracy lawmakers as saying.

Three mainland officials -- including Qiao Xiaoyang (喬曉陽), deputy secretary-general of the congress's standing committee -- will visit Hong Kong tomorrow to explain their ruling on Hong Kong's electoral reforms.

Opposition lawmakers Emily Lau (劉慧卿) and Lee Cheuk-yan (李卓人) said by telephone that they will "protest strongly" if Beijing indeed kills off the possibility of universal suffrage by 2007. Both declined to say what action they would take.

The Constitutional Affairs Bureau refused to comment on the newspaper report, calling it "speculative."

The highly unpopular Tung was chosen by an 800-person committee loyal to Beijing, and Hong Kongers elected only 24 of 60 legislators in the last election.
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