China Deals Blow to Hong Kong Democracy

China tightened its grip on Hong Kong yesterday with a controversial order that the territory cannot directly elect its next leader.

Britain and the US have protested against the move, which tramples on the aspirations of democrats in the special administrative region and erodes the autonomy promised Hong Kong after its transfer from British rule.

Using powers it granted itself less than a month ago, the National People's Congress standing committee ruled out universal suffrage in elections for the chief executive in 2007 and all members of the legislature in 2008.

The decision was reached behind closed doors in Beijing at a meeting dominated by communist cadres who made little effort to consult the millions who will be affected.

The move is seen as part of a strategy to choke the democracy movement in Hong Kong, where a protest of 500,000 people last year raised fears in Beijing that calls for reform could spark similar appeals on the mainland.

Representatives from Beijing said gradual reform was still possible, but they warned that completely democratic elections would cause instability.

"Governments who are led by the nose by public opinion are irresponsible," Qiao Xiaoyang, the deputy secretary-general of the congress standing committee, told a select audience in Hong Kong.

"The result of drastic reform is bound to be violent confrontation. Then there would be no stability, and society would be unable to bear the cost of this political experiment."

As he spoke, protesters chanted "Fake consultation, real dictatorship" and burned copies of the Basic Law, the mini-constitution that formed the basis of the "one-country, two-systems" formula that governed the 1997 handover of sovereignty.

"It's crystal clear now that the Chinese Communist party is going to put their head on Hong Kong's body," said Leung Kwok-hung, a pro-democracy activist widely known as "Long Hair". "We are now in a long-term struggle."

The focus of protests is expected to be labour union marches on May Day, a rally on July 1 - the anniversary of the huge protest last year - and during December's limited elections for the legislature.

Hong Kong's unpopular chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, called for calm.

"Some people are worried about the decision," he acknowledged. "I hope they'll be rational and calm, and let's work hard together to seek a consensus on constitutional reforms."

Authorities in Beijing point out that Hong Kong has never enjoyed full democracy. It was only at the end of colonial rule that limited suffrage was granted.

At present, the territory's chief executive is picked by an 800-member election committee, made up mainly of businessmen and professionals, that answers to Beijing and oversees a legislature in which only 30 of the 60 members are directly elected.

Democrats had hoped that suffrage would be extended in 2007, the earliest date permitted under the Basic Law. But in a series of lightning moves this month by Beijing that option has been ruled out.

"China's strategy is to put a straitjacket on discussion of political reform," said Christine Loh, the head of Hong Kong's Civic Exchange. "They've thrown doubt on the rule of law as Hong Kong understands it. The red flag has been raised."

The British government added its voice to the chorus of unease. Bill Rammell, the Foreign Office minister for the Asia-Pacific region, told the Chinese ambassador that the latest move contravened the handover deal.

"This decision seems inconsistent with the 'high degree of autonomy' Hong Kong was guaranteed under the joint declaration," said Mr Rammell. "We continue to hope that early progress can be made towards the Basic Law's ultimate aims of the election of the chief executive and all members of the legislative council by universal suffrage at a pace in line with the wishes of the people of Hong Kong."