Xinhua takes off the gloves and names HK alliance as unpatriotic

Xinhua yesterday ended its shadow boxing and for the first time directly named the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China as being unpatriotic.

The Xinhua article also cited comments made by late patriarch Deng Xiaoping in 1987 that 'universal suffrage might not be best for Hong Kong', and singled out several legislators for 'using democracy as a tool to fool the public'.

Although no names were given, the attacks were an oblique reference to Democrat Martin Lee Chu-ming and The Frontier legislator Emily Lau Wai-hing.

Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference vice-chairman Henry Fok Ying-tung, who is in Beijing, said last night the alliance had its own stance. But he added: 'Personally, I think all citizens have the right to run in elections.'

The Xinhua article by a former Basic Law drafter, Xu Chongde, cited remarks made by Deng on universal suffrage in April 1987, when the mini-constitution was being drafted. Mr Xu said individual Basic Law drafters had then demanded that 'one man, one vote' for the chief executive and the Legislative Council be written into the mini-constitution.

But Deng said: 'Is universal suffrage best for Hong Kong? I don't believe so. Hong Kong should be administered by Hong Kong people. Is it feasible that these people are going to be elected by 'one man, one vote?' We say these people should be Hong Kong people who love the motherland and Hong Kong. Can universal suffrage produce these candidates for sure?' Mr Xu said Deng's remarks were still valid. 'Just look at several legislators in Hong Kong, or leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance, or [those] who deliver remarks about supporting Taiwan independence. They have never done anything good enough for Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. And they are exactly the people elected by one man, one vote,' he said.