Last week the European Commission published its 2004 annual report on Hong Kong, describing the year as beginning with high expectations for political reform but ending with governance coming under greater influence from Beijing.
It referred to the involvement of the National People's Congress Standing Committee in the constitutional development of the special administrative region (SAR), saying it had undermined the integrity of the concept of 'Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong'.
Recounting the reinterpretation of the Basic Law in April last year, which ruled out direct elections for the chief executive in 2007 and for all members of the Legislative Council in 2008, the report said it was inconsistent with the 'high degree of autonomy' guaranteed under the Basic Law.
However, it noted that notwithstanding these developments, orderly elections were held last September which produced a record-high turnout, with 62 per cent of voters supporting pro-democracy candidates, indicating that there remains a strong preference for greater democracy.
Unlike some people in the Hong Kong establishment, the report said the overall conduct of the election displayed the political maturity of the SAR, and showed there is a sound basis for further democratisation.
Given such expectations in the local and international community, the Tsang administration is under pressure to deliver proposals that go a meaningful way towards universal suffrage. Democratic elections will improve governance; with leaders elected by the people, they will have to be accountable to them. Furthermore, voters can change the government peacefully through the ballot box if they are unhappy with its performance.
Even if the SAR cannot immediately realise the goal of a democratic government, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen should take bold steps in that direction. At present, only 160,000 of the 3.2 million registered voters have a right to elect the 800 members of the Election Committee. This is disgraceful and unacceptable.