Two outspoken political veterans faced off yesterday in one of Hong Kong's most keenly watched legislative elections since Britain returned the territory to China a decade ago, a race some are calling a referendum on democracy.
Although eight candidates were vying for the legislative seat, pre-election polls showed it was largely between two well-known, and politically divisive, female former officials -- Anson Chan (
Chan, dubbed ``Hong Kong's conscience'' for her championing of civil liberties, had the backing of the pro-democracy camp -- political parties that want Hong Kong to be able to elect all its lawmakers and leader by 2012.
Currently, only half the legislature is elected by voters, and Beijing has refused to set a date for full democracy.
Chan's closest rival, former security chief Ip, is squarely in the pro-administration corner, claiming to be fully supportive of full democracy for the vibrant, capitalist city, but only when Beijing gives its approval.
Whoever wins the election won't change Hong Kong's political landscape -- the legislature will still be controlled by Beijing's local allies.
Still, the balloting is seen as an important gauge of the public's desire for democratic reforms.
"Pro-Beijing voices are too strong in the legislature. I want to see one more pro-democracy lawmaker to balance the power," Susanna Yip said as she left a polling station, having voted for Chan.
"It's no doubt democracy is important, but I'm more concerned about how our livelihood can be improved," said IT executive Linda Au, who voted for Ip.
Political analysts expect the territory's Communist leaders in Beijing to keep a close eye on the election, but doubt whether the outcome will lead to any real change for Hong Kong.
"Beijing has already made up its mind on Hong Kong's democratic development. It's unlikely that it will allow universal suffrage in 2012, regardless of whether Chan wins the election or not," said James Sung, a political academic at the City University of Hong Kong.
However, Sung said a win by Chan would be a fillip for the pro-democracy movement, which suffered a huge blow in last month's district elections when Beijing-allied parties swept the board.
Analysts put that loss down to voters' reluctance to rock the boat when the economy is on an upswing, due in part to Hong Kong's close relationship with mainland China.
"No matter whether the economy is robust or not, there must be someone in the legislature to monitor and scrutinize the government," Chan told voters while canvassing at a public housing estate yesterday.
Hong Kong's leader is chosen by an 800-member committee loyal to Beijing and only half of its 60 legislators are elected, with the rest picked by interest groups.
AIR SUPPORT: The Ministry of National Defense thanked the US for the delivery, adding that it was an indicator of the White House’s commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act Deputy Minister of National Defense Po Horng-huei (柏鴻輝) and Representative to the US Alexander Yui on Friday attended a delivery ceremony for the first of Taiwan’s long-awaited 66 F-16C/D Block 70 jets at a Lockheed Martin Corp factory in Greenville, South Carolina. “We are so proud to be the global home of the F-16 and to support Taiwan’s air defense capabilities,” US Representative William Timmons wrote on X, alongside a photograph of Taiwanese and US officials at the event. The F-16C/D Block 70 jets Taiwan ordered have the same capabilities as aircraft that had been upgraded to F-16Vs. The batch of Lockheed Martin
GRIDLOCK: The National Fire Agency’s Special Search and Rescue team is on standby to travel to the countries to help out with the rescue effort A powerful earthquake rocked Myanmar and neighboring Thailand yesterday, killing at least three people in Bangkok and burying dozens when a high-rise building under construction collapsed. Footage shared on social media from Myanmar’s second-largest city showed widespread destruction, raising fears that many were trapped under the rubble or killed. The magnitude 7.7 earthquake, with an epicenter near Mandalay in Myanmar, struck at midday and was followed by a strong magnitude 6.4 aftershock. The extent of death, injury and destruction — especially in Myanmar, which is embroiled in a civil war and where information is tightly controlled at the best of times —
Taiwan was ranked the fourth-safest country in the world with a score of 82.9, trailing only Andorra, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in Numbeo’s Safety Index by Country report. Taiwan’s score improved by 0.1 points compared with last year’s mid-year report, which had Taiwan fourth with a score of 82.8. However, both scores were lower than in last year’s first review, when Taiwan scored 83.3, and are a long way from when Taiwan was named the second-safest country in the world in 2021, scoring 84.8. Taiwan ranked higher than Singapore in ninth with a score of 77.4 and Japan in 10th with
SECURITY RISK: If there is a conflict between China and Taiwan, ‘there would likely be significant consequences to global economic and security interests,’ it said China remains the top military and cyber threat to the US and continues to make progress on capabilities to seize Taiwan, a report by US intelligence agencies said on Tuesday. The report provides an overview of the “collective insights” of top US intelligence agencies about the security threats to the US posed by foreign nations and criminal organizations. In its Annual Threat Assessment, the agencies divided threats facing the US into two broad categories, “nonstate transnational criminals and terrorists” and “major state actors,” with China, Russia, Iran and North Korea named. Of those countries, “China presents the most comprehensive and robust military threat
RSS