Pro-democracy activists marched to China's representative office in the territory yesterday, demanding universal suffrage and accusing Hong Kong's leader of blocking reform.
"Hong Kong is ready and mature enough for direct elections," said Clare Lee, a 29-year-old organizer with the opposition Democratic Party.
Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, holds out the possibility that ordinary residents can elect their next leader in 2007 and all lawmakers by 2008.
But the protesters fear Beijing won't let that happen, and they accuse unpopular Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa (董建華) of blindly backing the central government and thwarting the will of the people.
"He's killing the rights the Hong Kong people should have," said Tam Wai-to, a 44-year-old union leader.
Rally organizers said 200 people joined yesterday's march that started at Hong Kong government headquarters and then headed to the Chinese government's liaison office in the afternoon. Police declined to provide a crowd estimate.
"Fight for democracy," the protesters chanted.
Although Hong Kong people are clamoring for full democracy, Beijing and Tung have indicated they want any progress to come gradually. Critics call that a stalling tactic.
China's most powerful legislative panel, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, ruled earlier this month that Beijing would have to give advance approval for any political changes.
The committee is expected to issue another decision on Monday that critics fear will rule out direct elections for Tung's successor in 2007. Tung was chosen by an 800-strong committee that sides with Beijing.
Tung has weighed in by recommending that Hong Kong change its electoral policies. But he suggested a stringent list of conditions -- including taking Beijing's views into consideration -- that critics say will effectively stop the push for full democracy.
Ordinary citizens get to directly elect some lawmakers, however, and the number rises to 30 out of 60 this September, up from just 24 in the 2000 elections.
A pro-democracy lawmaker said yesterday that Hong Kong's government believes the possibility of direct elections in 2007 and 2008 will be ruled out by Beijing today.
The lawmaker spoke only on condition of anonymity and declined to identify the government official who made that prediction.
Tsang Hin-chi (曾憲梓), a Hong Kong resident and member of the Chinese legislative panel, defended Tung's suggestions on reform. Speaking in Beijing, he said yesterday that Tung's views were based on public consultations in Hong Kong.
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