China paper lauds decision, while U.S., Taiwan express regret

A commentary article in an official Chinese newspaper yesterday lauded the decision to rule out full democracy for Hong Kong, while the United States and Taiwan indicated their regret over the decision.

The commentary in China’s Global Times, run by the People’s Daily official newspaper, said Hong Kong’s political reform had come to a “foregone conclusion”.

“The radical opposition camp is doomed to be a paper tiger in front of Hong Kong’s mainstream public opinion and the firm resolution of the central government,” the newspaper said.

“Hong Kong is not Ukraine, a fact the whole international community comprehends quite well. The central government has made rather a solemn decision. If radical opposition groups fail to understand this and believe they play a dominant role in Hong Kong’s political reform, then facts will give them a lesson.”

The newspaper said demands by pan-democratic activists had the support of only a minority of Hongkongers. “Hong Kong’s opposition groups do not have real cards in their hands despite their fierce clamour,” it added.

The Global Times said the Hong Kong government “enjoys perfect harmony with the central government in political reform, inevitably making a dramatic political upheaval a daydream of a minority”.

“Hong Kong is a society ruled by law and the force against the NPC (China’s National People’s Congress) decision is quite weak. China’s national strength means the West will not easily interfere in Hong Kong’s affairs,” the newspaper added.

Meanwhile, the Mainland Affairs Council in self-ruled Taiwan, which China regards as a breakaway province, expressed regret at the decision to rule out full democracy for Hong Kong, while activist groups there posted messages of support for the democracy movement online.

“Democracy and popular voting are universal values,” the Taiwanese agency responsible for mainland China policy said in a statement. “We understand the Hong Kong people’s expectation for the implementation of real universal suffrage.”

The council also called on Hong Kong and the mainland government to forge a consensus through “wisdom and patience”.

The opposition Democratic Progressive Party also said: “This decision by the NPC to limit the type and number of candidates for Hong Kong’s election is a major setback for the progress of Hong Kong’s democracy and we express regret at this decision”.

“This decision represents a smothering of the Hong Kong people’s demand for a truly representative government and casts a shadow over the progress of Hong Kong’s democratisation.”

US Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin, meanwhile, said the US backed “free and fair elections and transparency”.

“We believe, in the case of Hong Kong, in one country and two systems,” he said. AGENCIES