UK minister makes suffrage plea

Universal suffrage should be introduced in Hong Kong as soon as possible because democracy is not an 'optional extra' to economic development and social stability, visiting British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said.

Mrs Beckett also urged Beijing to start dialogue and 'be open' to different opinions in Hong Kong over democratisation.

Concluding her six-day visit to China, Mrs Beckett reiterated in a luncheon speech the British government's stance that universal suffrage should be introduced 'as soon as possible' in the city.

'I don't underestimate the difficulty of the obstacles inherent in political reform - including the move to universal suffrage. But the prize is worth it. Democracy cannot be seen as an optional extra to a thriving economy and a stable society. It is the foundation of it,' she said.

Economic development and social harmony have been repeatedly stressed by state leaders and Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen as a basis of Hong Kong's success. Officials said any model of universal suffrage would have to comply with these conditions, which are being examined by the Commission on Strategic Development.

Mrs Beckett hoped to see 'significant progress in the next few months' when the government launches a green paper on reform after the commission's deliberations.