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Hong Kong parliament defies Beijing's insistence and rejects 'democracy' plan Hong Kong parliament defies Beijing's insistence and rejects 'democracy' plan
(35 minutes later)
Pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong have defeated attempts to bring “fake democracy” to the former British colony by voting down a controversial Beijing-backed plan that sparked mass demonstrations in 2014.Pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong have defeated attempts to bring “fake democracy” to the former British colony by voting down a controversial Beijing-backed plan that sparked mass demonstrations in 2014.
The proposal – which China insisted represented true universal suffrage – would have seen Hong Kong’s five million voters granted the right to directly elect their future leaders – but only after candidates had been screened by a pro-Beijing committee.The proposal – which China insisted represented true universal suffrage – would have seen Hong Kong’s five million voters granted the right to directly elect their future leaders – but only after candidates had been screened by a pro-Beijing committee.
The “political reform package” was rejected on Thursday with 28 legislators in Hong Kong’s parliament voting against it. Eight lawmakers voted for the proposal. There are 70 members in all but more than two dozen pro-government politicians walked out of the session without voting in an apparent attempt to halt proceedings.The “political reform package” was rejected on Thursday with 28 legislators in Hong Kong’s parliament voting against it. Eight lawmakers voted for the proposal. There are 70 members in all but more than two dozen pro-government politicians walked out of the session without voting in an apparent attempt to halt proceedings.
Pro-democracy lawmakers and activists celebrated the result, even though it means the current system – under which Hong Kong’s chief executive is chosen by a 1,200-member pro-establishment “election committee” – will remain in place.Pro-democracy lawmakers and activists celebrated the result, even though it means the current system – under which Hong Kong’s chief executive is chosen by a 1,200-member pro-establishment “election committee” – will remain in place.
“It is a victory for those people who refuse to accept fake universal suffrage,” said Martin Lee, one of Hong Kong’s most prominent democracy activists. “This is good news for Hong Kong. Rejecting this fake universal suffrage puts the pressure back on Beijing.”“It is a victory for those people who refuse to accept fake universal suffrage,” said Martin Lee, one of Hong Kong’s most prominent democracy activists. “This is good news for Hong Kong. Rejecting this fake universal suffrage puts the pressure back on Beijing.”
Beijing lamented the defeat of its package. “Such a result is a departure from the mainstream public opinion of Hong Kong. It is also not what the central government likes to see,” a spokesperson for China’s cabinet-like State Council told the South China Morning Post.
An editorial published on the website of the pro-Beijing Global Times attacked Hong Kong’s pro-democracy legislators.
“All those who voted against the blueprint might be cocky today, but they will face the judgment of history and shoulder the responsibility eventually,” it said.
“We are concerned that a Pandora box is being opened in Hong Kong and various devils are released to ruin the region’s future,” the editorial added.
Victoria Hui, a political scientist who runs a blog about Hong Kong’s umbrella movement protests, said she expected an “intensification of resistance” to Beijing following the proposal’s defeat.Victoria Hui, a political scientist who runs a blog about Hong Kong’s umbrella movement protests, said she expected an “intensification of resistance” to Beijing following the proposal’s defeat.
“What we are seeing is a very artificial calm. There is a lot boiling under the surface and it is really hard to say what is going to ignite the next bomb. Hong Kong people’s frustrations could explode again at any time.”“What we are seeing is a very artificial calm. There is a lot boiling under the surface and it is really hard to say what is going to ignite the next bomb. Hong Kong people’s frustrations could explode again at any time.”
Pro-democracy politicians would now attempt to restart the political reform process and squeeze concessions out of Beijing but the Communist party was unlikely to cave in, Hui added. “If they had wanted to make compromises they would have done so already.”Pro-democracy politicians would now attempt to restart the political reform process and squeeze concessions out of Beijing but the Communist party was unlikely to cave in, Hui added. “If they had wanted to make compromises they would have done so already.”
Michael Davis, a law professor from the University of Hong Kong, said Beijing had paid the price for its refusal to offer a single concession to those pushing for greater levels of democracy.Michael Davis, a law professor from the University of Hong Kong, said Beijing had paid the price for its refusal to offer a single concession to those pushing for greater levels of democracy.
“What they got through this hard line was the whole of civil society protesting and resisting Beijing. It really backfired on them. We would hope that there would be some lessons learned and some acts of contrition going forward. Will that happen? Right now one can’t be optimistic.”“What they got through this hard line was the whole of civil society protesting and resisting Beijing. It really backfired on them. We would hope that there would be some lessons learned and some acts of contrition going forward. Will that happen? Right now one can’t be optimistic.”
Hundreds of police had gathered in and around Hong Kong’s government headquarters and parliament this week amid fears that the highly contentious vote could spark renewed protests or even violence.Hundreds of police had gathered in and around Hong Kong’s government headquarters and parliament this week amid fears that the highly contentious vote could spark renewed protests or even violence.
Tens of thousands of pro-democracy activists spilled out on to the streets in 2014 as part of the student-driven “umbrella movement” demonstrations. For 79 days large swathes of Hong Kong’s financial heart were transformed into a sea of tents and banners. Police eventually cleared the occupation in December.Tens of thousands of pro-democracy activists spilled out on to the streets in 2014 as part of the student-driven “umbrella movement” demonstrations. For 79 days large swathes of Hong Kong’s financial heart were transformed into a sea of tents and banners. Police eventually cleared the occupation in December.
On Thursday Xinhua, China’s official news agency, warned that Hong Kong risked “being torn further apart” if Beijing’s proposal was defeated. The Global Times, a nationalist tabloid, said “real chaos” could ensue.On Thursday Xinhua, China’s official news agency, warned that Hong Kong risked “being torn further apart” if Beijing’s proposal was defeated. The Global Times, a nationalist tabloid, said “real chaos” could ensue.
Speaking shortly before the vote around noon on Thursday, Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s number two official, lashed out at pro-democracy politicians for opposing the government’s package. “I am sad and I am disappointed. I do not know how democratic development can be taken forward,” she said.Speaking shortly before the vote around noon on Thursday, Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s number two official, lashed out at pro-democracy politicians for opposing the government’s package. “I am sad and I am disappointed. I do not know how democratic development can be taken forward,” she said.
Fanny Law, a pro-Beijing politician who is close to CY Leung, Hong Kong’s current chief executive, described the defeat as “heart-wrenching”.Fanny Law, a pro-Beijing politician who is close to CY Leung, Hong Kong’s current chief executive, described the defeat as “heart-wrenching”.
“But I think there was some misjudgment along the way and we really must sit down and mend the fences after the whole saga is over,” she told RTHK, Hong Kong’s public broadcaster. “We must find a way forward and we must address some of the very deep-rooted problems in our society.”“But I think there was some misjudgment along the way and we really must sit down and mend the fences after the whole saga is over,” she told RTHK, Hong Kong’s public broadcaster. “We must find a way forward and we must address some of the very deep-rooted problems in our society.”
Martin Lee, the founding chairman of Hong Kong’s Democratic party, said “a major change of policy” was now needed in the former colony.Martin Lee, the founding chairman of Hong Kong’s Democratic party, said “a major change of policy” was now needed in the former colony.
“If you look at Hong Kong today all the important decisions are not made here but in Beijing or locally through the Beijing agents. The whole thing has gone wrong,” he said.“If you look at Hong Kong today all the important decisions are not made here but in Beijing or locally through the Beijing agents. The whole thing has gone wrong,” he said.
“This is a good way to persuade [Chinese President Xi Jinping] that he shouldn’t continue with this wrong policy of dismissing the democrats as troublemakers or even as traitors.”“This is a good way to persuade [Chinese President Xi Jinping] that he shouldn’t continue with this wrong policy of dismissing the democrats as troublemakers or even as traitors.”
Since becoming Communist party chief in 2012 Xi had taken a hardline stance towards government critics, journalists, academics and bloggers, noted Davis, the law professor. To take a similarly tough stance on Hong Kong in the wake of Thursday’s defeat would be a mistake, Davis said.Since becoming Communist party chief in 2012 Xi had taken a hardline stance towards government critics, journalists, academics and bloggers, noted Davis, the law professor. To take a similarly tough stance on Hong Kong in the wake of Thursday’s defeat would be a mistake, Davis said.
“One would hope they’d cool it and not take the view to punish Hong Kong,” he said.“One would hope they’d cool it and not take the view to punish Hong Kong,” he said.
“I don’t think they have a desire to kill Hong Kong and being aggressive in their posture towards Hong Kong or interpreting this as indicating a need for them to interfere more rather than less would be a bad judgment on their part.”“I don’t think they have a desire to kill Hong Kong and being aggressive in their posture towards Hong Kong or interpreting this as indicating a need for them to interfere more rather than less would be a bad judgment on their part.”
Compromise was now needed from Hong Kong’s leaders. “The government’s credibility is really low – if all they do after this vote is go back to their offices and do nothing … then I think the problems of crisis and conflict in Hong Kong will persist.”Compromise was now needed from Hong Kong’s leaders. “The government’s credibility is really low – if all they do after this vote is go back to their offices and do nothing … then I think the problems of crisis and conflict in Hong Kong will persist.”