There can no longer be any doubting the message from Beijing on Hong Kong's hopes for political reform: Remember who is boss, and don't get carried away.
The statement issued by the central government last night was clearly intended to dampen enthusiasm for the speedy introduction of universal suffrage. It was a disappointing start to what we hope will be an open and wide-ranging debate. But the principles set out in that statement go beyond merely adopting a hardline negotiating position: some of them amount to an attempt to rewrite the Basic Law. We expect Beijing to be firm in asserting its rights under the Basic Law. These rights give the central government real power over the shape and timing of Hong Kong's political reform, so we should also be able to expect that Beijing will stick to the law.
The most startling assertion is that 'patriots' must form the main group of people ruling Hong Kong. This limitation is not to be found in our constitution and would be hard to reconcile with the aim of developing a system based on universal suffrage and democratic procedures, as stated in the Basic Law. It is true that Deng Xiaoping once expressed the view that the rulers of our city should mainly be 'patriots'. This was almost 20 years ago. He defined them as people who respect their own race, support reunification and do not damage the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong. This would include almost everyone in the pro-democracy camp.
Another example of an attempt to put a spin on the Basic Law is the statement that political reform must consolidate Hong Kong's executive-led government. This is not stipulated in the provisions of the Basic Law dealing with changes permitted from 2007 onwards. The appropriate form of government for Hong Kong should be a key part of the debate.
The other principles outlined in the statement are intended to underline something that hardly anyone in Hong Kong would question - our city is part of China, not an independent state. And just in case we forget, the document tells us to listen to the views of the central government when considering the reforms.
This, then, is the result of the long-awaited start of formal talks between Hong Kong officials and their mainland counterparts on the way forward. It does little to help provide a platform for genuine consultation and eventual consensus. Instead, the announcement of these principles is intended to inhibit the discussion and strictly limit their scope.
