Houston Community News >> Beijing Allows Hong Kong to Elect its Leader
12/29/2007 -- Hong Kong will be allowed to
directly elect its leader in 2017 and all of its lawmakers by 2020 at
the earliest, China said Saturday, an announcement that sparked protests
by pro-democracy activists who sought an earlier date.
"A timetable for obtaining universal suffrage has been set," the former British colony's leader, Donald Tsang, said in announcing the decision early Saturday. "Hong Kong is entering a most important chapter of its constitutional history."
Political analysts noted that candidates contesting the leadership race may still need to be nominated by an electoral committee and that Beijing will likely remain involved in the election process.
Setting a timetable for universal suffrage would help end conflicts in Hong Kong and allow the bustling financial hub to focus on developing its economy, said Qiao Xiaoyang, a senior member of China's parliament who flew to Hong Kong to explain the decision.
He said Hong Kong would be allowed to choose its leader through a direct election in 2017, and all its lawmakers by 2020 at the earliest. Changes would need to be made gradually, starting in 2012, the date of the next leadership race, he said, without saying what those changes may be.
"A timetable for obtaining universal suffrage has been set," the former British colony's leader, Donald Tsang, said in announcing the decision early Saturday. "Hong Kong is entering a most important chapter of its constitutional history."
Political analysts noted that candidates contesting the leadership race may still need to be nominated by an electoral committee and that Beijing will likely remain involved in the election process.
Setting a timetable for universal suffrage would help end conflicts in Hong Kong and allow the bustling financial hub to focus on developing its economy, said Qiao Xiaoyang, a senior member of China's parliament who flew to Hong Kong to explain the decision.
He said Hong Kong would be allowed to choose its leader through a direct election in 2017, and all its lawmakers by 2020 at the earliest. Changes would need to be made gradually, starting in 2012, the date of the next leadership race, he said, without saying what those changes may be.
(Contributed by IHT)