UK unwise to interfere in HK elections

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UK unwise to interfere in HK elections

(Global Times) 08:39, September 17, 2013

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Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying speaks to Journalist at a press conference after he delivered his 2013 Policy Address in Hong Kong, south China, Jan. 16, 2013. Leung delivered his first policy address on Wednesday morning at the Legislative Council here, outlining the city government's policy direction in 2013. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)

Hugo Swire, British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, contributed an article to Hong Kong's Ming Pao and South China Morning Post on Saturday, claiming that "Britain stands ready to support in any way we can" in the face of Hong Kong's 2017 election. Before Swire, Clifford Hart, consul general of the US to Hong Kong and Macao, was making carping comments on Hong Kong politics, and Song Zhe, Commissioner of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Hong Kong, openly criticized his inappropriate deeds. Swire's comment, which was published one day ahead of the September 15th International Day of Democracy, will certainly raise eyebrows.

There have been controversies about general elections within Hong Kong for years. The pan-democracy camp insists that Hong Kong, whose election must be conducted in accordance with the "general convention," should be regarded as an independent political entity. Such a claim won't be backed by the central government. Hong Kong's general election, as regulated by the central government, must be held based on the Basic Law. Anyone who goes against the will of the central government will be disqualified as a candidate for the chief executive.

It is predicable that conflicts over the general election will arise as 2017 approaches. Although the pan-democracy camp is far too weak to overwhelm both the Hong Kong and the central government, they still welcome an intervention by the US or the UK, which will only act as cheerleaders.

These official remarks from the US and the UK are too insignificant to make a difference to Hong Kong's political development. Those who belong to the so-called pan-democracy camp are still living in the old days, which have already been terminated after the Empire finally lost its control over Hong Kong.

The Empire never really cared about Hong Kong's democracy. In the colonial period, none of Hong Kong's governors were democratically elected, but nominated by the Queen. Now the UK interferes in Hong Kong's democratic issues, it is reasonable that its actions are embedded with insidious purposes.

Hong Kong returned to China 16 years ago, and democracy has enjoyed a significant development since then. More legislators have been elected through a direct election system, which will be applied to the election of the chief executive in 2017. Considering the inequality and injustice during the UK's colonization in Hong Kong, the Empire should regret rather than take credit for Hong Kong's democracy.

But it should be noted that Hong Kong's democracy has to be conducive to its progress and prosperity. In fact, it is only the government of Hong Kong and the central government that take high responsibility for Hong Kong's political improvement. Foreign governments interfere only for the sake of their own interests.

Although once a suzerain of Hong Kong, the UK should conduct itself with dignity and prudence when making official comments on China's domestic affairs.

（Editor：ZhangQian、Yao Chun）