Gradual change our best chance of achieving aims, claims lawyer

The principle that political development in Hong Kong be achieved gradually should be guarded as it provides a legal basis for ensuring that a more democratic system will emerge, a prominent lawyer and adviser to Beijing has warned.

Alan Hoo SC said the Basic Law provided a formula which - if followed - would ensure continued changes brought the 'ultimate objective' of universal suffrage ever closer. But this could be jeopardised if Hong Kong pushed for full democracy by 2007.

'I think it is important to enhance the momentum of constitutional reform to see that it does not stop. It is important to ensure the ultimate objective is always moving closer,' said Mr Hoo, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

The requirement in the Basic Law that political reform be 'gradual and orderly' has often been seen as a potential obstacle to development. But Mr Hoo said people had overlooked its role in ensuring that changes must be made before each new election - and that those changes had to be towards greater democracy.

'There should be reform every time. We should guard that,' Mr Hoo said. This was a sounder basis for continued change than seeking to use large-scale protests, of the kind seen on July 1 and January 1.

Mr Hoo accepted that the situation in Hong Kong had a bearing on the pace of change but said it should not interfere with the principle of gradual development. 'The way forward must be to put forward arguments which comply with the people's wishes on one hand and, on the other, are reasonable, legitimate and achievable within the context of the Basic Law.'