Heads in the sand
I refer to the article 'Firms may baulk at direct elections, warns James Tien' (August 4).
The article reported James Tien Pei-chun, chairman of the Liberal Party, as saying that the reason the business sector is against direct elections is that 'Businessmen would pull out of Hong Kong if a pro-democracy candidate standing for workers' rights was voted into power as chief executive by universal suffrage in 2007'.
First of all, Mr Tien does not represent the whole business sector.
Secondly, I put it to Mr Tien that if he thinks that only union leaders or candidates who represent labour interests will win direct elections, why is it that people like US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair can be voted into office? You cannot find a more pro-business president than Mr Bush - or is it that Mr Tien thinks it is all right for the US to have direct elections because everyone there has passed (his) wealth standard that people need to attain before being given the right to vote?
Hong Kong people are mature enough. An irresponsible person would not be elected to the office of chief executive if direct elections are held tomorrow.
It is time Mr Tien and die-hard conservatives like him take their heads out of the sand and observe how President Hu Jintao is moving China towards the rule of law and, ultimately, democracy.
ALEX WOO, Tsim Sha Tsui
