Democracy delayed, again

Washington Post: Some autocratic governments claim they can’t risk democratic elections because their leading opponents are religious extremists, separatists or irresponsible demagogues. Not so the rulers of Hong Kong. The typical opposition member of the city’s legislature is a strait-laced lawyer in a three-piece suit; the most radical proposal of the opposition candidate for chief executive last year was the introduction of a minimum wage. The opposition has never proposed revising the terms under which Hong Kong reverted to Chinese sovereignty a decade ago — it’s asked only that that “basic law,” which called for the introduction of full democracy in the former British colony, be respected.

That’s why it’s inexcusable, as well as disappointing, that China’s Communist leadership continues to deny Hong Kong its democratic rights. On Dec. 29 Beijing decreed that the next election for the executive, in 2012, would not be by universal suffrage. It said a direct vote could take place in 2017 — but only if Beijing first approves the system to be devised for it, which it says should include the pre-approval of all candidates. Full democracy for the Hong Kong legislature, which currently chooses only half its seats by a popular vote, would be delayed until at least 2020.

Timetable for democracy

Donald Tsang, Hong Kong’s current chief executive, tried to make this bitter pill more palatable to his 7 million constituents by arguing that China had at least established a timetable for democracy, something it has previously refused to do. But only last month, Mr. Tsang, who was chosen by Beijing, delivered an official report acknowledging that a majority in Hong Kong favored the introduction of full democracy in 2012. And opposition leaders quickly pointed out that the supposed timetable is full of loopholes that would allow the decision on the 2017 election to be changed at any time.

In its essence, the timetable represents a decision by Chinese President Hu Jintao to postpone any significant step toward democracy in Hong Kong past the end of his own term in 2013.