Hong Kong leadership change worries U.S.

AP by way of Kansas City Star ^ | 18MAR05 | WILLIAM FOREMAN

[familyop]

HONG KONG - The United States expressed concern Friday about Hong Kong's leadership change - a switch some legal experts and companies fear might mark the erosion of a legal system that has made the Chinese territory one of the best places in the world to do business.

Washington avoided the blunt language it used before when it accused China of chipping away at the high degree of autonomy Hong Kong was supposed to enjoy after returning to China in 1997. Instead, U.S. Consulate General spokeswoman Susan N. Stevenson conveyed America's worry by citing the importance of the rule of law.

But the abrupt resignation last week of Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong's leader, was viewed by many as a troubling development. Tung cited health reasons for his decision, but many believe he was forced to quit by the government in Beijing.

"International confidence in Hong Kong is predicated on its rule of law and high degree of autonomy," Stevenson told The Associated Press. "We urge the people of Hong Kong and their government to engage in dialogue to ensure that election plans are in keeping with the rule of law."

Stevenson's remarks reflect a constitutional controversy involving the length of term for Tung's successor, scheduled to be elected July 10.

Last year, the government insisted in a written interpretation that the Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini constitution, clearly says that if the chief executive resigned, his replacement would serve a five-year term.

But after Tung's resignation, the government announced it had changed its mind after consulting with legal experts in mainland China and researching the law's intention. Hong Kong officials said the new leader would just finish the last two years of Tung's term, and another election would be held in 2007, as originally planned.

The flip-flop created the popular perception that Hong Kong caved into Beijing's pressure. Many believe Beijing wanted the next leader to serve only two years so that he would be on probation. If he pleased China, he would get another term.

Leaders are elected by an 800-member committee dominated by those sympathetic to Beijing.

Philip Dykes, chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, said the regulations are clearly spelled out in the Basic Law and should not be open to new interpretation by mainland China.

"It's slightly alarming that the common law tradition has been postponed behind mainland views," he said.

The territory's acting leader, Donald Tsang, told reporters this week the two-year term would be best for Hong Kong's democratic development. That's because the election committee might be expanded before the 2007 vote to include a wider variety of people, he said. A task force is researching ways to broaden the group.

Tsang, a savvy career civil servant, insisted that Hong Kong was on the road to full democracy and would not turn back.

But some in the foreign business community were worried that Hong Kong's rule of law - one of the city's important selling points - had been compromised. They feared the government's decision about the term limit might mark the start of a troubling trend involving Beijing's meddling with the law for short-term political benefit.

"The appearance was that it was done for political reasons," said the chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Jon Zinke.

Corporate leaders have noted the legal U-turn and companies will watch closely for new signs that Hong Kong's legal system is becoming more like the mainland, said Helmut Sohmen, chairman of World-Wide Shipping Agency Ltd., which operates oil tankers and cargo ships.

Most people are thinking a great deal about these things "but don't want to put their head above the parapet for fear it will get chopped off," Sohmen said.

[Brilliant]

It's not our problem. It's theirs. My suggestion is that if you own interests in Hong Kong, then sell them.

[EagleUSA]

Did we expect anything different??? The old-line commies just cannot keep their hands out of the pot. It is all about power and control. Hong Kong - full democracy? Sure.

[Clock King]

Amazing ain't it? They really expected commie tyrants to let go of their power. They just don't get it. Tyrants aren't interested in money or wealth, they want to control peoples' minds.