Hong Kong officials and academics acknowledged that democracy will be hard-earned under Beijing's "one country, two systems" formula, but they displayed confidence at an international conference in Taipei yesterday about their ability to fight their way to democracy.
The two-day "Hong Kong under `one country, two systems'" conference hosted by the Taiwan Advocates think tank ended yesterday with a round-table discussion, "Hong Kong -- A Lesson for Taiwan," chaired by former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝).
Hong Kong delegates used the discussion to call upon pro-independence Taiwanese to understand their efforts to strive for democracy under Beijing's formula.
People in Hong Kong and Taiwan need to improve their understanding of each other, said some of the dozens of people from Hong Kong who attended the conference.
Hundreds of Taiwanese, many of whom staunchly support independence from China and oppose the "one country, two systems" formula, listened to the round-table discussion.
While Lee said the formula is completely unacceptable for Taiwan, many of the people from Hong Kong expressed the belief that with the people's best efforts, democracy in the territory is still possible under Beijing's formula.
Taiwan cannot establish a reason to reject the formula for itself by describing democracy as impossible, disillusioned or bankrupt in Hong Kong, a senior columnist from the territory said.
Lee Yee (
"Taiwan can reject the formula. I totally agree Taiwan should not accept the formula, but that does not mean I think Hong Kong should not accept the formula," Lee Yee said.
Stating that Hong Kong has no choice but to accept the formula, Lee Yee stressed that the people there can still find their own way to democracy.
He said his hope for democracy revived after the massive July 1 demonstration in Hong Kong.
"If the people of Hong Kong could find a way by their feet and force the government to make concessions, they may also open a way by their hands -- by casting ballots in next year's Legislative Council election," he said.
If the people vote for pro-democracy candidates so that more such candidates take seats on the council, they can make Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa (董建華) hear their voice, he said.
"In the past, I thought democracy shielded our freedom and a law-abiding society. But now I believe with freedom and a law-abiding society, we have an opportunity to promote democracy," he said.
"We hope people in Taiwan could bless us rather than wish that democracy will go bankrupt in Hong Kong [to prove the failure of Beijing's formula]," Lee Yee said.
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