China is studying how it can control who takes power in Hong Kong when the city switches to full democracy, a media report said yesterday, highlighting Beijing's fears for reform.
The Ta Kung Pao said Chinese Communist Party bosses were looking into an electoral system where it would nominate a slate of candidates to prevent victory by anyone deemed "unacceptable" and avoid a constitutional crisis.
RIGHTS RESERVED
China must reserve the "most important" right to appoint a chief executive and important officials for Hong Kong, the Beijing-backed newspaper reported, citing a source at the National People's Congress (NPC).
It also acknowledged that there would be a crisis if the central government does not appoint the candidate that Hong Kong people vote for.
"Whichever candidates Hong Kong nominates should first be communicated with the central government," the NPC source was quoted as saying. "The central government clearly stated that whom it does not accept will not be appointed."
The source also said there would be no legal obstacle to introducing universal suffrage in 2012, when the next leader will be selected, but it would proceed "gradually" and depend on the "actual situation" of Hong Kong, the newspaper reported.
Beijing appoints the territory's leaders under the Basic Law mini-Constitution, which has governed the territory since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997. It stipulates that leaders must eventually be elected by direct popular vote and Chief Executive Donald Tsang (
BIG DIVIDE
Hong Kong's political scene has been dominated by a feud between those who back swift reforms and those who support a wait-and-see approach.
China is reluctant to allow sudden change for fear it will destabilize its wealthiest city.
The city's democrats have been calling for the government to lay out a timetable for full democracy. Leaders are currently selected by a panel of pro-Beijing elites and only half of the legislature are directly voted for.
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