Hong Kong would be ruined by politicians promising free lunches to the public if the government acted too quickly on the introduction of full democracy, a tycoon has warned.
Sir Gordon Wu Ying-sheung, head of Hopewell Holdings, yesterday said it would not be 'too long'' - 10 to 20 years - before direct elections were fully implemented.
'For an individual, 10 to 20 years is a long period. But for development in a country, 10 to 20 years is not too long,'' he said on RTHK.
It took 200 years for the United States to grant women equal voting rights, he added.
Sir Gordon stirred controversy in the past by questioning why everyone in the community should get the vote when not everybody pays tax. After a speech given by the then chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang in April 2001, he asked her who would protect the interests of the 25 per cent of the population who paid tax when the 75 per cent who did not held power in a full democracy. His remarks prompted Mrs Chan to ask if what he was advocating was a system of 'no tax, no vote'.
Referring yesterday to the democratic development in countries which have gained independence from colonial powers, Sir Gordon expressed fears that a quick move towards full democracy would destroy Hong Kong's success. 'Politicians who promise everything for the masses will win all the seats,' he warned. 'They will not just promise free lunches, but free dinners and breakfasts for all.''