https://www.scmp.com/rss/314337/feed Beijing releases a white paper on Hong Kong stating that it has ‘complete jurisdiction’ over the territory and is the source of its autonomy. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Three years after the ­Occupy protests, Hong Kong’s constitutional system is undergoing a subtle change, where “one country” has become more important, while “two systems” is under integration. The “full autonomy” movement launched by the opposition – with the support of local and foreign ­forces – is in a quandary, rendering them frustrated and powerless. “Hong Kong Independence” banners put up at university campuses were an expression of this frustration, while cold-blooded attacks on... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2113926/how-hong-kong-can-have-democracy-under-one-country-two?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2113926/how-hong-kong-can-have-democracy-under-one-country-two?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Oct 2017 09:05:14 +0000 We sit now on the edge of our seats, waiting for the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress to announce its interpretation of Article 104 of the Basic Law. The question is whether it feels that one interpretation will be sufficient as “effective action” to rein in the calls for Hong Kong independence. I, like most of you, do not like this one bit, and would much rather not be put in this most unpleasant predicament. Us ordinary residents would need to suck it up and try our best to... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2043002/hong-kong-needs-clear-eyed-view-beijings-powers-under-basic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2043002/hong-kong-needs-clear-eyed-view-beijings-powers-under-basic?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Nov 2016 01:02:28 +0000 A Hong Kong magistrate told ­Occupy activist Joshua Wong ­Chi-fung to reflect on his past ­behaviour while acquitting him and three others of charges of ­obstructing police yesterday. The Eastern Court case centred on the burning of a prop of Beijing’s white paper – addressing the extent of Hong Kong’s autonomy – outside the central government’s liaison office in the city’s Western district on June 11, 2014. Four men were arrested 13 months later, including League of Social Democrats... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1967994/joshua-wong-acquitted-judge-tells-activist-reflect-his?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1967994/joshua-wong-acquitted-judge-tells-activist-reflect-his?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jun 2016 05:00:30 +0000 A sergeant claimed Joshua Wong Chi-fung prevented him from carrying out duties because the former Scholarism convenor seized a water bottle meant for recycling and drew an angry crowd during a protest on Beijing’s white paper in June 2014. The Eastern Court case centred on the burning of a prop of Beijing’s white paper – addressing the extent of Hong Kong’s autonomy – outside the central government’s liaison office in the city’s Western district on June 11, 2014. Four men were arrested 13 months... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1941145/joshua-wong-seized-my-water-bottle-and-obstructed-my-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1941145/joshua-wong-seized-my-water-bottle-and-obstructed-my-work?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 May 2016 10:20:12 +0000 A police inspector told Eastern Court that two men, including radical lawmaker Albert Chan Wai-yip, blocked a colleague from putting out a fire to burn a big copy of Beijing’s white paper on the extent of Hong Kong’s autonomy at a protest outside Beijing’s ­liaison office. Li Tsz-wai’s testimony was made during the trial of League of Social Democrats vice-chairman Raphael Wong Ho-ming, 27, Chan, 61, Demosisto chairman Nathan Law Kwun-chung, 23, and the new party’s secretary Joshua Wong Chi-fung,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1940679/hong-kong-protesters-tried-prevent-police-putting-out-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1940679/hong-kong-protesters-tried-prevent-police-putting-out-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 May 2016 06:41:41 +0000 Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing has called for an urgent review of Beijing’s implementation of the “one country, two systems” policy for Hong Kong, at the same time warning of its demise if the central government interferes more frequently in the running of the city. In a hard-hitting interview with the South China Morning Post, Tsang suggested the winner of the 2017 chief executive election should set up a platform comprising representatives from various sectors to discuss... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1853845/exclusive-hong-kong-legco-chief-says-urgent-review-needed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1853845/exclusive-hong-kong-legco-chief-says-urgent-review-needed?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Aug 2015 10:00:00 +0000 Four democracy activists who played a central role in Hong Kong’s Occupy protests - including the movement’s poster boy Scholarism convenor Joshua Wong Chi-fung - are to make a bid to have their trial on police obstruction charges scrapped. Lawyers for Scholarism conevor, Wong, 18 and Federation of Students head Nathan Law Kwun-chung, 22, told Eastern Court today that they would apply for the charges against their clients to be stayed. Co-accused Albert Chan Wai-yip, 60, and Raphael Wong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1853350/key-occupy-central-activists-including-joshua-wong-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1853350/key-occupy-central-activists-including-joshua-wong-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2015 04:00:15 +0000 A magistrate yesterday questioned why prosecutors had taken a full year to bring four activists - including Scholarism convenor Joshua Wong Chi-fung - to court for allegedly obstructing police officers in the execution of their duties. Eastern Court Principal Magistrate Bina Chainrai reminded the prosecution that League of Social Democrats vice-chairman Raphael Wong Ho-ming, 26; lawmaker Albert Chan Wai-yip, 60; Federation of Students secretary general Nathan Law Kwun-chung, 22; and Joshua Wong,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1840769/joshua-wong-and-hong-kong-activists-may-have-faced-undue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1840769/joshua-wong-and-hong-kong-activists-may-have-faced-undue?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jul 2015 04:30:00 +0000 Student leader Joshua Wong Chi-fung and three other activists are set to be charged with obstructing police officers during a protest outside the central government's liaison office last summer. They say the move by police, more than a year after the protest took place, appears like a political prosecution. In a WhatsApp message to the media yesterday, Wong, convenor of student group Scholarism, said he was at the airport checking in for a morning flight to Japan to go on holiday when he... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1833331/student-activist-joshua-wong-faces-charges-over-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1833331/student-activist-joshua-wong-faces-charges-over-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jul 2015 05:45:00 +0000 Now that the mainland's decision on Hong Kong's version of democracy has finally been rendered, its consequences will reveal themselves in the inherent ifs, errors and commitments over time, which will be the ingredients of high drama and tragic history. Whether most Hong Kong people know it, all the great promises and words were cancelled for this generation. Beijing cannot countenance any election system that disturbs the oligarchy of tycoons it has consigned the city and its people to. The... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/1592538/hong-kongs-end-history?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/1592538/hong-kongs-end-history?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2014 20:45:15 +0000 A Beijing legal scholar acknowledged an "inaccuracy" and "omissions" in the English version of the white paper on Hong Kong, which many in the city have interpreted as a threat to judicial independence. Wang Zhenmin, a former member of the Basic Law Committee, said the white paper issued by the State Council in June was not meant to affect judicial independence. "Some contents have been omitted. In the Chinese version, it says the judiciary is independent by law, but this part is missing in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1581361/beijing-scholar-admits-error-and-omissions-white-paper-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1581361/beijing-scholar-admits-error-and-omissions-white-paper-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Aug 2014 20:56:23 +0000 The UK Supreme Court's president, who also sits on Hong Kong's top court, has dismissed worries over demands in Beijing's white paper for local judges to be patriotic, saying the requirement is "not inconsistent" with judicial independence. "I wonder if there is anything to worry about in the white paper," Lord Neuberger said in a speech at the Foreign Correspondents' Club. Neuberger, a non-permanent judge on the city's Court of Final Appeal since 2009, said judges were expected to be patriotic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1580878/no-need-fear-beijings-white-paper-says-top-uk-judge-lord-neuberger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1580878/no-need-fear-beijings-white-paper-says-top-uk-judge-lord-neuberger?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2014 12:43:01 +0000 Beijing is studying ways to soften the blow that its controversial white paper had on Hong Kong, sources close to the central government said. The sources said that while central government officials insisted Beijing had the right to issue the white paper and may do it again in future, they admitted in private that the paper should have been better prepared beforehand to soften the tone and make it more palatable to the Hong Kong public. Mainland officials have held several rounds of "frank"... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1577992/beijing-seeks-ways-soften-blow-white-paper-had-hong-kong-says-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1577992/beijing-seeks-ways-soften-blow-white-paper-had-hong-kong-says-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2014 20:45:45 +0000 A criminal lawyer more vocal about trade than politics has replaced the embattled Ambrose Lam San-keung as president of the Law Society. The council of the society yesterday elected Stephen Hung Wan-shun, who has served as vice-president, to the top post shortly after Lam tendered his resignation. Lam confirmed before the meeting that he would step down after a vote of no confidence in him passed by a wide margin at an extraordinary general meeting last Thursday. "This may be the last time I see... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1577280/law-society-elects-stephen-hung-president?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1577280/law-society-elects-stephen-hung-president?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2014 15:45:30 +0000 Law Society president Ambrose Lam San-keung announced on Tuesday that he will resign following controversy over his positive response to Beijing’s white paper on Hong Kong. The announcement came after solicitors passed a motion of no confidence in Lam last Thursday at an historic meeting of the 9,000-strong society. It was the first time the society had debated a motion of no confidence against a president. Before the society’s council met at 1pm on Tuesday, Lam confirmed that he will tender his... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1576791/law-society-president-ambrose-lam-resigns-following-historic-no?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1576791/law-society-president-ambrose-lam-resigns-following-historic-no?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2014 05:45:30 +0000 The city's top judge yesterday weighed into the debate about Beijing's white paper on the city's affairs, stressing that the local judiciary would act only on the basis of the law and would not be swayed by any other factor. Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li was commenting for the first time on the June report, which disturbed many lawyers by classifying judges as "administrators" with a "basic political requirement" to love the country. His remarks, in a speech on "the rule of law and an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1575016/hk-chief-justice-weighs-first-time-beijing-white-paper?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1575016/hk-chief-justice-weighs-first-time-beijing-white-paper?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Aug 2014 11:30:45 +0000 The community is expecting anxiously the determination of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on the method of electing the chief executive in 2017. When it is made, the process of political reform will advance to a further stage. Like many of my fellow citizens, I am worried about the increasing polarisation in society today. In the coming months, I hope that there will be rational discussions within the parameters of the Basic Law and that all activities will be conducted... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1573656/under-rule-law-independent-judiciary-answers-no-political?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1573656/under-rule-law-independent-judiciary-answers-no-political?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2014 22:05:39 +0000 Former top judge Andrew Li Kwok-nang has expressed reservations about the view expressed in Beijing's recent white paper on the "one country, two systems" formula that Hong Kong judges have a "basic political requirement" to love the country. In a commentary published in the South China Morning Post today, Li said public concerns raised over Hong Kong's judicial independence, following the issue of the State Council document on June 10, were justified. "What is of great concern is the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1573867/judges-dont-need-be-patriots-andrew-li?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1573867/judges-dont-need-be-patriots-andrew-li?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2014 20:15:00 +0000 When Ambrose Lam San-keung was re-elected president of the Law Society in May, few would have predicted that a month later he would be at the centre of a political storm unprecedented in the history of the solicitors' body. Last night, he lost a motion of no-confidence following his support for Beijing's white paper that, in reaffirming its authority over Hong Kong, described judges as administrators with a political requirement to love China. Anger over the paper brought 1,800 lawyers onto the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1573742/ambrose-lam-courted-triumph-controversy-law-society-leader?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1573742/ambrose-lam-courted-triumph-controversy-law-society-leader?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2014 20:00:45 +0000 The Law Society yesterday passed a historic vote of no confidence in its president for his remarks backing Beijing's recent white paper on Hong Kong. A no-confidence motion in Ambrose Lam San-keung was passed by a wide margin, with 2,392 votes for and 1,478 against. The rules of the Law Society do not state that a president must resign if a vote of no confidence is passed. "Tonight there's no winner or loser for the Law Society," a stony-faced Lam said after the meeting, without indicating... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1573871/solicitors-pass-vote-no-confidence-law-society-chief-ambrose-lam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1573871/solicitors-pass-vote-no-confidence-law-society-chief-ambrose-lam?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2014 15:45:45 +0000 Beijing's "one country, two systems" policy on Hong Kong will not change even if universal suffrage cannot be achieved in the 2017 chief executive election, the central government's top representative in the city says. The assurance came from Zhang Xiaoming, director of the central government's liaison office, after a white paper issued in June was seen as going against the promise of a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong laid down 30 years ago. But he also stressed the need to consider... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1568673/autonomy-hong-kong-safe-says-liaison-office-chief-zhang-xiaoming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1568673/autonomy-hong-kong-safe-says-liaison-office-chief-zhang-xiaoming?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Aug 2014 21:30:45 +0000 Hong Kong's sense of identity runs deep in every political issue and conflict. The post-colonial Hong Kong narrative has been 17 years in the making, but it has been a narrative of ever contesting identities. Scholars have long understood its role in our collective angst. Dr Howard Choy perhaps put it in the simplest of terms: "They find themselves helplessly trapped in the juxtaposition of the dual identities of overseas British, who have no right of abode in their adopted country, and Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1564373/can-hong-kong-be-co-author-one-country-two-systems-story?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1564373/can-hong-kong-be-co-author-one-country-two-systems-story?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2014 18:46:55 +0000 China's first ever white paper on the implementation of "one country, two systems", although heavily criticised in legal and pro-democracy circles, aroused little attention in the wider community. Briefings for schools, business and youth groups showed that few had read the document, let alone digested its content. Why then have the authorities in Beijing taken the trouble to print it and translate it into seven languages? Beijing considered sending two senior officials to Hong Kong to explain... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1563267/white-paper-aims-renew-nations-contract-hong-kong-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1563267/white-paper-aims-renew-nations-contract-hong-kong-people?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Aug 2014 20:25:47 +0000 A Law Society veteran has issued a rallying call to members to oust the institution's president for endorsing Beijing's white paper on "one country two systems". Joyce Wong, the society's director of practitioners affairs for two decades until retirement last year, rounded on Ambrose Lam San-keung ahead of a vote of no confidence in the president, who was only re-elected in May. In a public statement issued yesterday, Wong said Lam had drawn into question the neutrality of the Law Society by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1562953/rallying-call-remove-law-society-president?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1562953/rallying-call-remove-law-society-president?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jul 2014 20:45:30 +0000 The mainland's top official on Hong Kong affairs warned yesterday that "external interference" in the city's affairs was totally unacceptable to Beijing - an apparent reference to Britain. Zhang Dejiang made the comments to Beijing loyalists during talks in Shenzhen, a Liberal Party source reported. He also said the 2017 chief executive election was not the "be-all and end-all" in the city's pursuit of universal suffrage. Zhang, chairman of the National People's Congress, was speaking as... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1556725/pan-democrats-can-be-patriots-npc-chief-tells-loyalists-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1556725/pan-democrats-can-be-patriots-npc-chief-tells-loyalists-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Jul 2014 11:15:50 +0000 Last month, authorities in Beijing dropped a bombshell by publishing their first ever white paper on the implementation of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong. The unprecedented move immediately sparked speculation that Beijing's statement signified a weakening of its commitment to Hong Kong's separate systems. Pundits also questioned the timing of its release, being so close to the holding of an unauthorised "referendum" on the mechanisms for nominating the chief executive in 2017. In the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1556182/disaffection-poisons-hong-kong-mainland-relations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1556182/disaffection-poisons-hong-kong-mainland-relations?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Jul 2014 20:13:36 +0000 A top Beijing official told Hong Kong officials they must "strictly follow" the Basic Law in working out their electoral reform proposal when he unexpectedly summoned them for talks in Shenzhen yesterday. Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying revealed he and three senior colleagues had met Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the National People's Congress, four days after Leung submitted a report on reform to the NPC. It is the first time the chairman of the nation's top legislature has travelled to Shenzhen... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1556622/npc-chairman-tells-cy-leung-hong-kong-must-strictly-follow-basic-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1556622/npc-chairman-tells-cy-leung-hong-kong-must-strictly-follow-basic-law?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Jul 2014 12:00:15 +0000 Scepticism was expressed in Hong Kong yesterday about whether Britain would really stand up for the city's interests despite a pledge by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Two academics said the Conservative Party's concerns about trade relations with China remained the biggest hindrance to Britain offering more than "some moral backing". Professor Lau Siu-kai and Dr Kenneth Chan Ka-lok were speaking after Clegg was quoted as saying Britain would "pursue every legal and other avenue available" if... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1555930/academics-doubt-britains-pledge-standing-hong-kongs-interests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1555930/academics-doubt-britains-pledge-standing-hong-kongs-interests?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Jul 2014 21:15:15 +0000 China accused London of interfering in its internal affairs after British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg met two leading Hong Kong pro-democracy activists urging greater freedoms from Beijing. Beijing "lodged solemn protests" with Britain over Tuesday's meetings with Martin Lee, founder of the opposition Democratic Party, and Anson Chan, the former number 2 in the city's government, Xinhua reported yesterday. "What Britain has done is interference in China's internal affairs. China strongly... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1555551/china-slams-british-interference-nick-clegg-meets-hk-activists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1555551/china-slams-british-interference-nick-clegg-meets-hk-activists?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Jul 2014 04:15:00 +0000 The white paper on the practice of the "one country, two systems" policy in Hong Kong, released by the State Council recently, made a comprehensive review of Hong Kong's progress since the handover in its efforts to expand its external ties and gain a competitive edge in the world. Foreign affairs is an important symbol of state sovereignty and a key component of the central authority's exercise of jurisdiction over Hong Kong in accordance with the law. The commissioner's office has all along... https://www.scmp.com/comment/article/1555365/how-one-country-two-systems-ensures-hong-kongs-prosperity-and-stability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/article/1555365/how-one-country-two-systems-ensures-hong-kongs-prosperity-and-stability?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2014 08:45:00 +0000 Britain will honour its 1984 pledge to "mobilise the international community and pursue every legal and other avenue available" if China breaches the agreement vowing "one country, two systems" for Hong Kong. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was quoted as telling ex-chief Secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang and Democratic Party founding chairman Martin Lee Chu-ming this during their current visit to the UK. A press release issued yesterday by Chan's think tank Hong Kong 2020 said Clegg had told... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1555347/uk-will-mobilise-global-community-if-china-breaches-one-country-two?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1555347/uk-will-mobilise-global-community-if-china-breaches-one-country-two?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2014 05:45:15 +0000 The government will "abuse the concept of the rule of law" if it rejects the notion of voters nominating chief executive candidates without offering alternatives that ensure the greatest possible public participation, the Bar Association said yesterday. The Bar - which earlier said public nomination was incompatible with the Basic Law - also criticised as unfair the government's selective use of its views on political reform. The United States, meanwhile, has voiced support for the 2017 chief... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1552393/bar-association-calls-options-reform-offering-greatest-possible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1552393/bar-association-calls-options-reform-offering-greatest-possible?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Jul 2014 15:30:00 +0000 Pan-democratic lawmakers have slammed Britain's twice-yearly report on Hong Kong as "weak" and "avoiding embarrassing Beijing" after it did not express a view on Beijing's white paper asserting its authority over the city. "The UK government's position is clear: Hong Kong's unique constitutional framework has worked well," British Foreign Secretary William Hague wrote in his 23-page report to the parliament on affairs in the former colony. Hague's report came after the State Council's white... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1551331/uk-report-hong-kong-avoids-embarrassing-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1551331/uk-report-hong-kong-avoids-embarrassing-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2014 12:45:15 +0000 The "one country, two systems" white paper released recently has prompted a major debate. While it is still on our minds, I think two particular points should receive some attention. The first is that the "one country, two systems" formula is a two-way process. This is something we often overlook. The second is the importance of international observers as target audiences of the white paper. The white paper was a very detailed statement of how "one country, two systems" works. It seems to be... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1550961/white-paper-doesnt-signal-shift-beijings-policy-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1550961/white-paper-doesnt-signal-shift-beijings-policy-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2014 04:15:45 +0000 Failure to achieve universal suffrage in 2017 would deal a serious blow to Hongkongers' confidence in the "one country, two systems" formula, Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing has warned. "If we can't forge a consensus for the 2017 chief executive election, I can't see that it could be done in 2022 or 2027 - or even 2047 - as the voices of radicals in Hong Kong would gain the upper hand and Beijing's stance would get even tougher," he said. Tsang also said Hongkongers should be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1549263/hong-kongs-faith-one-country-two-systems-risk-jasper-tsang-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1549263/hong-kongs-faith-one-country-two-systems-risk-jasper-tsang-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2014 15:30:45 +0000 Former British governor Chris Patten hit out at Beijing's white paper on Hong Kong, saying it was "wholly reasonable" for Hongkongers to protest. In an interview with the Financial Times, Patten said Hong Kong judges should not be subject to political considerations, referring to a statement in the document that judges are administrators and as such have a "basic political requirement" to love the country. The paper, which outlines its "comprehensive jurisdiction" over the city, also states that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1547089/backlash-against-beijings-white-paper-wholly-reasonable-says-chris?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1547089/backlash-against-beijings-white-paper-wholly-reasonable-says-chris?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2014 19:15:00 +0000 The Communist Party’s mouthpiece People’s Daily published the third editorial in a week that claimed Beijing’s policy on Hong Kong had not changed since issues were first raised in the 1980s. A front-page editorial called it “completely groundless” to believe that the recently published white paper – which had stirred controversy and triggered protests in Hong Kong – went against the central government’s “one country, two systems” policy. It also said it was groundless to worry that Beijing... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1546480/peoples-daily-defends-hong-kong-white-paper-third-time-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1546480/peoples-daily-defends-hong-kong-white-paper-third-time-week?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2014 06:30:00 +0000 Hongkongers’ mistrust of the central government has climbed to a record high level, according to a survey by the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies at the Chinese University (CUHK). A separate telephone survey by the University of Hong Kong’s public opinion programme found that the proportion of Hongkongers who are dissatisfied with Beijing’s policies towards Hong Kong had also hit a record high. The CUHK telephone poll was conducted between last Monday and Thursday – two weeks after Beijing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1543669/hongkongers-mistrust-beijing-hits-record-level-after-white-paper-poll?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1543669/hongkongers-mistrust-beijing-hits-record-level-after-white-paper-poll?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Jun 2014 11:00:30 +0000 The reaction in Hong Kong to a white paper on the "one country, two systems" policy showed that Beijing needed to learn to communicate better with the city, said a mainland source who was involved in the document's drafting process. The white paper was intended to explain central government policies and principles directly to Hongkongers, the source said, adding: "Judging from the reaction in the past few weeks, it has fallen short of the central government's expectations." The source said: "A... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1543274/white-paper-was-failure-communication-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1543274/white-paper-was-failure-communication-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Jun 2014 21:00:15 +0000 "One country, two systems" isn't a myth. The constitutional principle formulated by the late Deng Xiaoping has been around since 1984. But back in the day, many spoke of it as a solution to Beijing's "Taiwan problem". Today, it's beginning to look a lot like Beijing's "Hong Kong problem". "One country, two systems" has evolved since its inception in Hong Kong 17 years ago. Over that time, talk of "testing it in Hong Kong, then Macau, before Taiwan" has slowly lost its relevance. Just a week ago,... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1541776/beijing-cannot-scold-its-way-solution-hong-kong-problem?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1541776/beijing-cannot-scold-its-way-solution-hong-kong-problem?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Jun 2014 19:04:00 +0000 As expected, the State Council's white paper on "one country, two systems" turned out to have the opposite effect to its intention. It offered a timely helping hand to Occupy Central organisers, and looks set to galvanise a bigger turnout for the annual July 1 march. Beijing is now becoming even more alarmed. A showdown looks likely. The white paper has been widely condemned as trampling on Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy. But why at this juncture has Beijing's highest state organ seen fit... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1541781/beijings-white-paper-lays-down-red-lines-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1541781/beijings-white-paper-lays-down-red-lines-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Jun 2014 19:03:54 +0000 A former Law Society president staged a small-scale demonstration of mostly non-lawyers in Central yesterday to counter a march by about 1,800 legal professionals voicing their discontent with Beijing's white paper. Junius Ho Kwan-yiu, who now sits on the society's council, issued a last-minute appeal and gathered about 20 people in front of the Court of Final Appeal on Battery Path less than an hour before the other protest began. He made patriotism the theme of his rally, aimed at "correcting"... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1541989/protesters-speak-against-lawyers-march?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1541989/protesters-speak-against-lawyers-march?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2014 19:41:28 +0000 A record number of lawyers took to the streets yesterday to protest against Beijing's white paper that they say jeopardises judicial independence, a value that sets Hong Kong apart from the rest of the country. One of the city's highest-level judges offered support for the 1,800 participants, who wore black and marched in silence in the profession's third public display of support for the judiciary since the handover in 1997. Watch: Hong Kong lawyers march to defend judiciary in wake of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1541814/hong-kong-lawyers-stage-silent-march-oppose-beijings-white-paper?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1541814/hong-kong-lawyers-stage-silent-march-oppose-beijings-white-paper?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2014 10:45:30 +0000 Lawyers organising today's march in defence of judicial independence received fresh impetus yesterday as a retired judge and two leading law deans stood by critics of Beijing's white paper, which categorises judges as administrators who need to be patriotic. Retired High Court judge William Waung Sik-ying said it was "most regrettable" that "the Hong Kong government has not immediately taken steps to correct the ... error of judicial patriotism in the white paper". "I hope the silent march will... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1541288/retired-judge-law-deans-back-silent-hong-kong-marchers-legal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1541288/retired-judge-law-deans-back-silent-hong-kong-marchers-legal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Jun 2014 18:45:00 +0000 As Occupy Central's civil referendum draws to a close, we can afford to pause and reflect on the old maxim that a week is a long time in politics. When the poll opened, on June 20, the organisers were bracing themselves for a "damp squib" - a turnout possibly so low as to call into question the whole purpose of the exercise. The reasons for gloom were clear. Successive opinion polls showed the majority of those canvassed do not support Occupy Central. A further body of opinion felt cheated... https://www.scmp.com/comment/article/1541021/turnout-occupy-central-vote-stirring-show-hong-kong-defiance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/article/1541021/turnout-occupy-central-vote-stirring-show-hong-kong-defiance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Jun 2014 09:30:45 +0000 A parents' group has launched an online petition against the State Council's white paper on Hong Kong, saying it breaks the promises that Beijing made in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and Basic Law. "As parents who grew up and raised our children in Hong Kong, if we don't take action to defend 'one country, two systems', we'll be ashamed to face our next generations," said Eva Chan Sik-chee, convenor of the Parents' Concern Group on National Education. The group fought off plans for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1540518/parents-white-paper-petition-next-generation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1540518/parents-white-paper-petition-next-generation?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Jun 2014 20:00:00 +0000 Calls are intensifying for lawyers to join a march tomorrow to defend judicial independence and oppose Beijing's white paper asserting its "comprehensive jurisdiction" over Hong Kong. The State Council document, issued on June 10, deviates from Beijing's previous promises to Hongkongers and the policy under which the city operates, says a top barrister familiar with the drafting of the Basic Law. It failed the test of ensuring a balance between "one country" and "two systems", Denis Chang... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1540526/rallying-words-rule-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1540526/rallying-words-rule-law?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Jun 2014 20:00:00 +0000 Law and politics are not supposed to mix, but it is often difficult to separate one from the other. Over the years, Hong Kong's legal community has played an important role in defending the rule of law and, in doing so, commenting on politically sensitive issues. Tomorrow, some members of the profession will take part in a rare protest march, the third of its kind since the handover. This time, the march is in support of judicial independence in light of the central government's recent white... https://www.scmp.com/comment/article/1540201/hong-kongs-lawyers-must-speak-out-sensitive-issues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/article/1540201/hong-kongs-lawyers-must-speak-out-sensitive-issues?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Jun 2014 04:15:00 +0000 Weeks after the Occupy Central movement decided to stage the vote on electoral reform, the civil disobedience movement was in a serious crisis. The group had shortlisted three reform proposals, each one allowing the public to nominate chief executive candidates in 2017. But organisers worried that many would be discouraged from casting ballots because of the narrow range of options. Dr Chan Kin-man, a co-organiser of the Occupy Central movement, warned on May 28 that the campaign would fail if... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1538501/hong-kong-white-paper-boon-participation-occupy-central?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1538501/hong-kong-white-paper-boon-participation-occupy-central?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2014 21:00:00 +0000 The day Beijing released the unprecedented white paper on "one country, two systems" proclaiming its "comprehensive jurisdiction" over Hong Kong, it also decided that two senior officials would head to the city to promote the paper and give a better understanding of what it entails. But the visit was postponed suddenly, two days before their scheduled arrival date of June 19. The official reason was the pair's busy schedule. The speculation is that amid the "Occupy Legislative Council" drama and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1538456/debate-over-white-paper-both-necessary-and-natural?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1538456/debate-over-white-paper-both-necessary-and-natural?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2014 20:57:56 +0000