UK welcomes city's democratic pledges
'Progressively more democratic' elections in 2012 will be important to Hong Kong's transition to universal suffrage, the British government says.
In its latest six-monthly report to Parliament, published yesterday, it said the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Sino-British Joint Declaration that led to the handover had been upheld.
In a foreword to the report, Foreign Secretary David Miliband acknowledged the Hong Kong government's plan to make the 2012 elections a stepping stone to full democracy in light of the National People's Congress' decision that universal suffrage can be introduced for the election of the chief executive in 2017.
'We welcome this clear commitment that 2012's elections will be progressively more democratic in preparation for the attainment of universal suffrage for the chief executive election in 2017 and the Legislative Council [election] in 2020. We believe this is important in ensuring Hong Kong's democratic development.'
The Hong Kong government responded by saying: 'The aim of the government is to determine the ... electoral methods for 2012 in the current [administration's] term in order to enhance democratic elements. This could then lay a solid foundation for attaining universal suffrage for the chief executive in 2017 and for Legco in 2020.'
The report addressed the long-standing denial of entry to the mainland for most pan-democrats.
'The inability of some legislators to travel to the mainland is a barrier to open dialogue ... We hope the Chinese authorities will allow all legislators who wish to visit the mainland to do so to further develop dialogue and understanding,' it said.
The report also welcomed efforts to develop a low-carbon economy and said the city was well placed to influence the climate-change debate on the mainland.
