Beijing's reform framework for Hong Kong contradicts Basic Law: US report

Beijing's restrictive framework on Hong Kong's political reform conflicts with standards in the city's mini-constitution and runs counter to international commitments it made, a US Congress official body says.

The United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which advises Congress on relations with China, made the strongly worded accusations in its annual report, which was rejected as "biased" by the Hong Kong government.

The body dedicated the last paragraph of the report to Hong Kong, in which it referred to the National People's Congress' ruling in August - that while the city could elect its leader by "one man, one vote" in 2017, only two or three hopefuls backed by half of a 1,200-strong nominating committee could run.

"[It] effectively excludes democratic candidates from nomination and allows Beijing to control the outcome," the report says. "This proposal conflicts with standards set forth in Hong Kong's Basic Law … and runs counter to international commitments made by China in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration to preserve Hong Kong's 'high degree of autonomy'."

The Hong Kong government hit back, saying it "regrets" the "biased" report. "The allegations [are] unfounded and misleading," a spokesman said, adding that the electoral methods and nominating procedures were still subject to public consultation.

Citing incidents such as the approved rezoning of a section of the Central waterfront from open space to military use in February, the commission also said: "Increased Chinese military activity in Hong Kong signals China's determined presence [in Hong Kong] and serves to intimidate pro-democracy activists from participating in the Occupy Central movement."