Activists welcome foreign interest in reform
The participation of Hong Kong people in the campaign for democracy over the past half-year has aroused interest in the international community, activists said yesterday.
But the activists said whether Hong Kong achieved universal suffrage for the election of the chief executive in 2007, and the legislature in 2008, depended mainly on the willingness of Hong Kong people to fight for themselves.
They were speaking after the United States government on Friday night, for the second time in less than a month, called for democratic reform in Hong Kong and praised its people for their efforts to gain greater democracy.
Last month, US Consul-General James Keith told an American Chamber of Commerce luncheon that the record million-plus voters who cast ballots in November's District Council elections had emphasised the power of participatory democracy, and the July 1 protest and its aftermath had boosted Hong Kong's confidence.
Mr Keith also said the next best step for Hong Kong was to begin full public consultations on democratisation as soon as possible.
His remarks drew strong criticism from the central government, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs labelling his remarks irresponsible and calling for the US to stay out of Hong Kong politics.
Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong, spokesman for the Civil Human Rights Front - which organised the historic 500,000-strong march on July 1 and the 100,000-strong rally on New Year's Day - said yesterday that it was natural the international community was concerned about the city's pace towards democracy, as it was a basic human right.
'Over the past half a year, Hong Kong citizens have been very eager to express their views on democracy,' Mr Tsoi said. 'Therefore the international community's concerns and support were aroused.'
But he said foreign countries' support could only be seen as an encouragement to Hong Kong people - it was up to the public itself to bring about changes.
Democratic Party chairman Yeung Sum also said he believed the effect of the US government's stance on Hong Kong's democratic development was minimal. 'Hong Kong's democracy has to rely on Hong Kong people themselves,' he said.
Dr Yeung said the most urgent task at the moment was to reach a consensus among different sectors of the society on the method of selecting the next chief executive, as any change would require the support of two-thirds of the Legislative Council.
Under the Basic Law, any change to the method of selecting the chief executive and the whole of the 60-member legislature after 2007 would need the support of two-thirds of Legco, consent from the chief executive and the approval of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
Ma Lik, chairman of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong and a local deputy to the National People's Congress, said there was no need for the US to teach Hong Kong how to carry out its constitutional reform.
'Hong Kong itself can find out a way for democratic development according to the Basic Law and the city's actual situation,' Mr Ma said.
