Activists condemn Beijing over elections ruling

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Hong Kong

Democracy activists in Taiwan on Monday condemned restrictions on the election of Hong Kong’s next leader announced by Beijing at the weekend.Hong Kong

The decision to restrict candidates to Beijing-approved nominees was a violation of the “one country, two systems” principle, said Ku Chung-hwa, director general of the Taiwan Society for Democracy.

Hong Kong was promised a degree of autonomy for 50 years from the handover by former colonial power Britain to Beijing in 1997.

“In Taiwan, we feel anxious. If Hong Kong is not allowed to enjoy real democracy, will Taiwan be able to maintain existing lifestyle and democratic life when facing threats from China?” Ku told a news conference.

Taiwan has tense relations with Beijing, which does not formally recognize its autonomy. In contrast to Hong Kong, the island has several bilateral diplomatic relations of its own, and full administrative control of its own territory.

China has allowed some reform for the 2017 election of Hong Kong’s legislative assembly and leader. But on Sunday it ruled out any public nomination of candidates for chief executive.

Tsai Chi-hsun, secretary-general of Taiwan Association for Human Rights, said this was not compatible with Hong Kong’s Basic Law, which guarantees every permanent resident the right to vote and stand for election.

“Beijing should have not misled the public,” Tsai said.

Wang Dan, an exiled prominent leader of the 1989 Tiananmen protest in Beijing, now teaching in Taiwan, said Beijing, like a “hooligan,” has swallowed its own words and was preventing democracy in Hong Kong.

“Taiwan Ma Ying-jeou’s administration should never believe in Beijing’s promises,” Wang said.

Beijing has said that the current version of the Basic Law gives every eligible resident the right to participate in elections, but also grants “central government” considerable control over the final appointment of the chief executive.

Wang urged political parties and civil society in Taiwan to support the Occupy Central protest group, a Hong Kong activist movement pushing for the public nomination of the territory’s next leader.

“If Hong Kong falls, Beijing will soon target Taiwan,” Wang warned.

 

GNA
PDC

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