BEIJING — China’s parliament yesterday dashed the hopes of Hong Kong’s voters that they could choose their leaders directly in elections set for 2007 and 2008, asserting Beijing’s full control over constitutional change in the territory.
The decision came after top members of the National People’s Congress (NPC) had voted on political reforms for the former British colony, where calls have mounted for more voting rights out of growing frustration with the China-backed administration.
The ruling sparked protests in the territory.
The United States and Britain expressed disappointment with the NPC’s action. London said the move seemed inconsistent with the “high degree of autonomy” Beijing had guaranteed to Hong Kong upon assuming control of the region in 1997.
The parliament’s decision was announced in Beijing by Tsang Hin-chi, a Hong Kong member of the NPC.
“There will be no universal suffrage for electing the third chief executive in 2007,” Mr. Tsang told reporters in comments carried live on Hong Kong’s cable television.
“There will be no universal suffrage for all legislators,” he added, referring to elections scheduled for 2008.
The move is part of a campaign by Beijing since the start of the year to contain Hong Kong’s democratic aspirations. China’s communist leadership fears that the democracy drive could produce a government that would challenge Beijing’s control.
Apparently aware of the potential furor, Beijing quickly sent three senior officials to Hong Kong to sell its decision.
“Drastic political reform would be unwise. … It might hamper the long-term prosperity of Hong Kong,” senior Chinese parliamentarian Qiao Xiaoyang said in Hong Kong. He spoke to an audience that included top business leaders, such as Li Ka-shing, Asia’s richest tycoon.
But several Hong Kong legislators walked out of a seminar by Mr. Qiao at government headquarters. “Fight for universal suffrage. Never give up,” they chanted after they left. Other demonstrators burned copies of the city’s Basic Law, or mini-constitution.
British Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell said London was “disappointed that the NPC has set limits to constitutional development in Hong Kong that are not required by the Basic Law.”
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher also expressed unhappiness with the Chinese decision.
“We believe it does not adequately reflect the expressed wishes of the Hong Kong people for universal suffrage and for democracy,” he said.
Hong Kong’s unpopular leader, Tung Chee-hwa, called for calm. “Let’s work hard together to seek a consensus on constitutional reforms,” he said.
“This has killed the ’one country-two systems’ principle,” said Lee Cheuk-yan, a prominent pro-democracy lawmaker and workers’ rights champion. “We have to tell the world that we don’t accept Beijing running Hong Kong.”
Other Hong Kong activists urged voters to back the democracy camp in legislative elections in September, when Beijing fears opposition politicians might win a majority.
Half of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council is chosen by direct election, and the other half is selected by largely pro-Beijing professional and business groups.
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