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Hong Kong leader in democracy vow | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Hong Kong's Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, has reiterated a pledge to create a more democratic system in the territory. | |
His comments came shortly after he was sworn in for a second term in office by Chinese President Hu Jintao. | |
Mr Hu is in Hong Kong to mark the 10th anniversary of the territory's handover from British to Chinese rule. | |
Speaking after Mr Tsang, he said that political development in Hong Kong should be "gradual and orderly". | |
Hong Kong was returned to China at midnight on 30 June 1997 after more than 150 years under the British. | |
At midnight, Buddhist monks held a bell-chiming ceremony, counting down to the moment of the anniversary. Fireworks and celebrations are scheduled for later in the day. | |
Universal suffrage | |
Sworn in with his new Cabinet after a morning flag-raising ceremony by the harbour, Mr Tsang praised both Hong Kong and China's development in the last 10 years. | |
"We have benefited from the process, but also contributed to it," he said. "Hong Kong needs our country, and our country also needs us." | |
But he also pledged greater efforts on democracy. | |
An honour guard raised the flags in a morning ceremony | An honour guard raised the flags in a morning ceremony |
"A green paper will be published this year so that we can all work together to identify the most acceptable mode of universal suffrage to best serve the interests of Hong Kong," he said. | "A green paper will be published this year so that we can all work together to identify the most acceptable mode of universal suffrage to best serve the interests of Hong Kong," he said. |
Mr Hu emphasised Beijing's sovereignty over Hong Kong. | |
"One country, two systems cannot be separated from each other," he said. "The one country means that we must uphold the power vested in the central government." | |
Hong Kong residents cannot elect their chief executive. They can vote for half of the seats in the legislature. | |
China and Britain promised in 1997 that Hong Kong would become a full democracy, but did not state when that would happen. | |
Annual march | |
Mr Hu's visit - his first to the territory since he became president - has attracted protests from pro-democracy activists. | |
On Saturday, several dozen activists tried to reach his hotel but were turned back by police. | |
A bell marked the exact moment Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule | A bell marked the exact moment Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule |
At the same time as the bell-ringing, pro-democracy figures re-enacted the protest they held on the Legislative Council balcony in 1997, unfurling a banner saying: "We want democracy." | At the same time as the bell-ringing, pro-democracy figures re-enacted the protest they held on the Legislative Council balcony in 1997, unfurling a banner saying: "We want democracy." |
"It was written into the Basic Law that we could have democracy in 2007. We just want that promise kept," said Martin Lee, chairman of Hong Kong Democrats. | "It was written into the Basic Law that we could have democracy in 2007. We just want that promise kept," said Martin Lee, chairman of Hong Kong Democrats. |
Pro-democracy activists and lawmakers are to hold an annual street march later in the day to call for full democracy. | |
Thousands of people are expected to attend, but Mr Hu will not be present. | |
The day will end with a fireworks display that will spell out the phrase "Chinese people", reiterating a message of unity between Hong Kong and China that Mr Hu has emphasised during his visit. |