Remarks are left out to influence Legco elections, say analysts
The 'selective' citation of Deng Xiaoping's remarks on universal suffrage by Xinhua was aimed at marginalising pro-democracy activists and influencing the outcome of the Legco election in September, analysts said yesterday.
Their comments came after research by the South China Morning Post found that a series of articles published by Xinhua - following its publication of the full text of Deng's speech in June 1984 on February 19, had left out some crucial remarks made by the late leader.
The official agency carried an article written by Tang Hua, deputy chief editor of Outlook magazine, which cited Deng's remarks made in October 1984, in which he said: 'There is only one requirement for participants: they must be patriots, that is, people who love the motherland and Hong Kong.'
But it did not mention Deng's quotes at that time, which said: 'So long as we all stand on the side of the Chinese nation and help safeguard its general interests, all of us, regardless of our different political views and including those who criticise the Communist Party, can unite.'
The latest article published by Xinhua on Sunday, which was written by former Basic Law drafter, Xu Chongde, cited remarks made by Deng on universal suffrage in April 1987, when the mini-constitution was drafted.