This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/21/world/asia/leung-chun-ying-hong-kong-china-protests.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong Leader Reaffirms Tough Stance on Elections and Economic Discontent | Hong Kong Leader Reaffirms Tough Stance on Elections and Economic Discontent |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| HONG KONG — The Beijing-appointed leader of Hong Kong, Leung Chun-ying, said Monday evening that allowing his successors to be chosen in an open election based on who won the greatest number of votes was unacceptable in part because it would produce policies skewed toward the poor. | HONG KONG — The Beijing-appointed leader of Hong Kong, Leung Chun-ying, said Monday evening that allowing his successors to be chosen in an open election based on who won the greatest number of votes was unacceptable in part because it would produce policies skewed toward the poor. |
| Speaking to a small group of journalists at his official residence, Mr. Leung acknowledged that the protests that have shaken this autonomous Chinese territory for the past three weeks reflected not only broad demands for democracy but also economic grievances, notably the high cost of housing and limited social mobility for the young. | Speaking to a small group of journalists at his official residence, Mr. Leung acknowledged that the protests that have shaken this autonomous Chinese territory for the past three weeks reflected not only broad demands for democracy but also economic grievances, notably the high cost of housing and limited social mobility for the young. |
| But Mr. Leung, whom the Chinese Communist Party’s leadership has repeatedly endorsed, argued that remedying these grievances should be left to policies like expanding the supply of housing. | But Mr. Leung, whom the Chinese Communist Party’s leadership has repeatedly endorsed, argued that remedying these grievances should be left to policies like expanding the supply of housing. |
| His blunt comments highlighted the extent to which the street struggle over Hong Kong’s political future has been driven by broad economic discontent, especially among younger residents, and they appeared likely to draw new attacks from critics who say he is defending an elitist political compact stacked against the city’s ordinary citizens. | His blunt comments highlighted the extent to which the street struggle over Hong Kong’s political future has been driven by broad economic discontent, especially among younger residents, and they appeared likely to draw new attacks from critics who say he is defending an elitist political compact stacked against the city’s ordinary citizens. |
| And he offered a tough defense of a provision in the territory’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law, that calls for a “broadly representative” nomination committee to control whose names can appear on ballots to succeed him as chief executive. | And he offered a tough defense of a provision in the territory’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law, that calls for a “broadly representative” nomination committee to control whose names can appear on ballots to succeed him as chief executive. |
| Mr. Leung said that if “you look at the meaning of the words ‘broadly representative,’ it’s not numeric representation.” | Mr. Leung said that if “you look at the meaning of the words ‘broadly representative,’ it’s not numeric representation.” |
| “You have to take care of all the sectors in Hong Kong as much as you can,” he said, “and if it’s entirely a numbers game and numeric representation, then obviously you would be talking to half of the people in Hong Kong who earn less than $1,800 a month.” | “You have to take care of all the sectors in Hong Kong as much as you can,” he said, “and if it’s entirely a numbers game and numeric representation, then obviously you would be talking to half of the people in Hong Kong who earn less than $1,800 a month.” |
| “Then you would end up with that kind of politics and policies,” he continued. | “Then you would end up with that kind of politics and policies,” he continued. |
| Mr. Leung spoke under the crystal chandeliers of Government House, a sprawling colonial mansion with high ceilings that was the official residence of British governors for more than a century before the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Located in elaborate gardens on a bluff overlooking the city center, it is now the residence of the territory’s chief executives. | Mr. Leung spoke under the crystal chandeliers of Government House, a sprawling colonial mansion with high ceilings that was the official residence of British governors for more than a century before the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Located in elaborate gardens on a bluff overlooking the city center, it is now the residence of the territory’s chief executives. |
| He said that it had recently been remodeled so that he and his top aides could work there while protesters besieged his downtown offices. “We didn’t miss a beat” in moving operations to Government House, and this has made it easier for Hong Kong’s leaders to show patience toward the protesters, Mr. Leung said. | He said that it had recently been remodeled so that he and his top aides could work there while protesters besieged his downtown offices. “We didn’t miss a beat” in moving operations to Government House, and this has made it easier for Hong Kong’s leaders to show patience toward the protesters, Mr. Leung said. |
| Mr. Leung was appointed in 2012 after a 1,200-member election committee of prominent Hong Kong residents endorsed him. Critics say that committee was packed with Beijing’s supporters, but Mr. Leung said it was also “broadly representative,” as defined by the Basic Law, because its members came from different economic sectors, professions, religious groups and other segments of society. | Mr. Leung was appointed in 2012 after a 1,200-member election committee of prominent Hong Kong residents endorsed him. Critics say that committee was packed with Beijing’s supporters, but Mr. Leung said it was also “broadly representative,” as defined by the Basic Law, because its members came from different economic sectors, professions, religious groups and other segments of society. |
| The chief executive said that in seeking the top job, he had exhaustively wooed the 20 members of the committee who had been chosen by coaches and others in the city’s athletics sector. “If it was an entirely universal suffrage election,” in which anyone could appear on the ballot, Mr. Leung said, “then the sports community would not count, they would not feature on my radar screen — I would not spend hours sitting down with them.” | The chief executive said that in seeking the top job, he had exhaustively wooed the 20 members of the committee who had been chosen by coaches and others in the city’s athletics sector. “If it was an entirely universal suffrage election,” in which anyone could appear on the ballot, Mr. Leung said, “then the sports community would not count, they would not feature on my radar screen — I would not spend hours sitting down with them.” |
| He also raised again the suspicions of his government and of Beijing that “foreign forces” had played a role in the street protests, although he declined repeatedly to identify those forces or provide any examples. “I didn’t overhear it in a teahouse, and it’s something that concerns us,” he said. “It’s something that we need to deal with.” | He also raised again the suspicions of his government and of Beijing that “foreign forces” had played a role in the street protests, although he declined repeatedly to identify those forces or provide any examples. “I didn’t overhear it in a teahouse, and it’s something that concerns us,” he said. “It’s something that we need to deal with.” |
| Mr. Leung set out his case for following the letter of the Basic Law while Hong Kong is wedged between two seemingly implacable forces: demands from many residents for his resignation and fully open, democratic elections for his successor, even as Beijing insists that he remain in office and defends restrictive rules aimed at limiting who can appear on any ballot to succeed him. His low ratings in public opinion polls in the city also took a hit this month from allegations that a business deal brought him an unfair, possibly unlawful, windfall. | Mr. Leung set out his case for following the letter of the Basic Law while Hong Kong is wedged between two seemingly implacable forces: demands from many residents for his resignation and fully open, democratic elections for his successor, even as Beijing insists that he remain in office and defends restrictive rules aimed at limiting who can appear on any ballot to succeed him. His low ratings in public opinion polls in the city also took a hit this month from allegations that a business deal brought him an unfair, possibly unlawful, windfall. |
| A tenacious protest movement has spread beyond its initial student base to embrace discontented middle-class and blue-collar residents. But they face the unyielding Chinese Communist Party leadership, which has said the demonstrators have no chance of securing their demands. | A tenacious protest movement has spread beyond its initial student base to embrace discontented middle-class and blue-collar residents. But they face the unyielding Chinese Communist Party leadership, which has said the demonstrators have no chance of securing their demands. |
| Current and former Hong Kong officials and a range of experts said in interviews over the past week that Beijing was opposed to any resignation by Mr. Leung regardless of how unpopular he might become in Hong Kong, because that could be seen as setting a precedent for letting street protests decide the careers of public officials in Hong Kong. The state-run Xinhua news agency said again in a report on Monday morning that top Chinese officials stood by Mr. Leung. | Current and former Hong Kong officials and a range of experts said in interviews over the past week that Beijing was opposed to any resignation by Mr. Leung regardless of how unpopular he might become in Hong Kong, because that could be seen as setting a precedent for letting street protests decide the careers of public officials in Hong Kong. The state-run Xinhua news agency said again in a report on Monday morning that top Chinese officials stood by Mr. Leung. |
| Hong Kong has retained an independent, British-designed legal system and many freedoms denied mainland citizens. Many Hong Kong residents, however, see those freedoms as threatened by encroachment from the central government, and they have demanded open elections to elect the chief executive. | Hong Kong has retained an independent, British-designed legal system and many freedoms denied mainland citizens. Many Hong Kong residents, however, see those freedoms as threatened by encroachment from the central government, and they have demanded open elections to elect the chief executive. |
| On Monday evening, Mr. Leung backed Beijing’s case for much narrower electoral changes that would ensure the Chinese government allows only candidates with its blessing to run. Mr. Leung rejected proposals for nominations by the public, and said such proposals violate the Basic Law. | On Monday evening, Mr. Leung backed Beijing’s case for much narrower electoral changes that would ensure the Chinese government allows only candidates with its blessing to run. Mr. Leung rejected proposals for nominations by the public, and said such proposals violate the Basic Law. |
| But Mr. Leung has also tried to avoid letting the standoffs between the protesters and the police, which have sometimes flared into scuffles and violence, escalate into a confrontation that, even on a much smaller scale, might echo the Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing in 1989. Protesters have accused the Hong Kong police of using excessive force in beating them back with pepper spray and batons. | But Mr. Leung has also tried to avoid letting the standoffs between the protesters and the police, which have sometimes flared into scuffles and violence, escalate into a confrontation that, even on a much smaller scale, might echo the Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing in 1989. Protesters have accused the Hong Kong police of using excessive force in beating them back with pepper spray and batons. |
| Mr. Leung said he hoped a “dialogue” by five of his top aides with student leaders, scheduled for Tuesday, would help ease tensions. On the streets, however, the impasse between protesters and the authorities deepened over the weekend. On Friday night, demonstrators retook a street in Mong Kok, a crowded neighborhood on the north side of the city, rebuffing the police who that day had cleared it of most of the demonstrators and their tents and barricades. | Mr. Leung said he hoped a “dialogue” by five of his top aides with student leaders, scheduled for Tuesday, would help ease tensions. On the streets, however, the impasse between protesters and the authorities deepened over the weekend. On Friday night, demonstrators retook a street in Mong Kok, a crowded neighborhood on the north side of the city, rebuffing the police who that day had cleared it of most of the demonstrators and their tents and barricades. |
| Mong Kok again flared with confrontation on Saturday night, and tensions rose on Sunday night until two pro-democracy lawmakers, Fernando Cheung and Claudia Mo, calmed the crowd and the police announced that they would reduce the number of officers deployed across the barricade from the protest site. | Mong Kok again flared with confrontation on Saturday night, and tensions rose on Sunday night until two pro-democracy lawmakers, Fernando Cheung and Claudia Mo, calmed the crowd and the police announced that they would reduce the number of officers deployed across the barricade from the protest site. |
| Many hundreds of protesters also remain at Admiralty, a district on Hong Kong Island near the government’s offices, and at night and weekends numbers there have swelled into the thousands. | Many hundreds of protesters also remain at Admiralty, a district on Hong Kong Island near the government’s offices, and at night and weekends numbers there have swelled into the thousands. |
| Accusations of financial impropriety, first reported by an Australian newspaper, have magnified protesters’ calls for Mr. Leung’s resignation. An Australian company, UGL, agreed to pay Mr. Leung $6.4 million in 2011, before he was appointed the city’s chief executive, as part of its buyout of a company in which Mr. Leung was an executive. The money was paid over two years while Mr. Leung was in office. | Accusations of financial impropriety, first reported by an Australian newspaper, have magnified protesters’ calls for Mr. Leung’s resignation. An Australian company, UGL, agreed to pay Mr. Leung $6.4 million in 2011, before he was appointed the city’s chief executive, as part of its buyout of a company in which Mr. Leung was an executive. The money was paid over two years while Mr. Leung was in office. |
| Mr. Leung’s opponents have been accusing him of official misconduct for accepting the money and failing to disclose it or pay taxes on it. But he and UGL have said that the payment was a legitimate deal, and Mr. Leung said he had no legal obligation to declare the income. | |
| Mr. Leung also delivered several thinly veiled warnings that while Beijing has not yet tried to intervene directly in Hong Kong, it was risky to try the patience of the Chinese authorities. | Mr. Leung also delivered several thinly veiled warnings that while Beijing has not yet tried to intervene directly in Hong Kong, it was risky to try the patience of the Chinese authorities. |
| “So far Beijing has left it to the Hong Kong government to deal with the situation, so I think we should try our very best — and this is myself, the government and the people of Hong Kong — should try our very best to stay that way,” he said. “Challenging myself, challenging the Hong Kong government, at these difficult times will do no one any service, will do Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy no service.” | “So far Beijing has left it to the Hong Kong government to deal with the situation, so I think we should try our very best — and this is myself, the government and the people of Hong Kong — should try our very best to stay that way,” he said. “Challenging myself, challenging the Hong Kong government, at these difficult times will do no one any service, will do Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy no service.” |