Reforms needed

I have been following the debate, through these columns, between Elsie Tu and other correspondents, and I could not stop thinking about the definition of parliamentary democracy which was given by Sir Winston Churchill.

He said: 'Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.'

Mrs Tu seems to be saying that the PRC has now come up with a better system.

With all due respect I find this view very hard to accept.

The Chinese Communist Party came to power thanks to the Japanese invasion of China and the ensuing civil war.

It has never held free elections, so it does not have a clear mandate from the people.