In his policy address, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said that Hong Kong cannot begin the process of constitutional reform without first getting the approval of the central government. Although Mr Tung was informed by Beijing last month, he kept it secret until he delivered the bombshell last Wednesday.
It may take some time for this alarming message to sink in, but the people should realise they must try to directly engage the central authorities to make our voices heard. The fact that the vast majority of the Hong Kong people would like to have the power to elect the next chief executive in 2007 and all members of Legco in 2008 should not be in doubt. The huge demonstrations on July 1 last year and on New Year's Day provide ample evidence of the people's desire for democracy.
There is also little argument in the special administrative region that these changes are legally and constitutionally possible under the Basic Law, as long as the mechanism for change set out in Annex I and II are satisfied. For election of the chief executive, changes would require the endorsement of 40 members of Legco, the consent of the chief executive and the approval of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Changes to the election of the legislature would require endorsement of 40 Legco members, the consent of the chief executive and would have to be reported to the Standing Committee.
These are incredibly difficult hurdles to overcome and will ensure that the central government has the final say. Sadly, to the leaders in Beijing who are being described as more open and liberal minded, they are insufficient. The message is loud and clear. Hong Kong people cannot embark on the course of political reforms without the blessing of the central government.
Faced with repeated demands from many sectors to begin the process of constitutional reforms, the Tung administration had undertaken to publish a timetable for consulting the public by the end of last year. The administration has also spent months studying the legal implications of the Basic Law, particularly regarding the direct election of the chief executive in 2007. It came to the conclusion that there was no problem.
However, the central government thinks otherwise and has now directly intervened. In so doing, the leadership in Beijing has ignored the demands for democracy which have been so clearly articulated in the huge demonstrations. Following the central government's orders, Mr Tung shelved the plan to publish a timetable for political reforms and instead announced the establishment of a taskforce, headed by Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen. It will also include Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie and Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung.
In his policy address, Mr Tung revealed that when he went on a duty visit to Beijing last month, President Hu Jintao told him of the serious concern and principled stance of the central government towards the development of Hong Kong's political structure. Responding to this concern, the taskforce will examine issues concerning the understanding of the relevant provisions of the Basic Law and consult the relevant authorities in Beijing. Until the full implications of these issues are understood, no arrangements for the review of constitutional development will be made.