HONG KONG -- The April 11 protest against Beijing's decision to interpret the Basic Law's provisions in a way that makes it impossible for the Special Administrative Region, or SAR, to initiate moves toward universal suffrage marks the first large protest against the central government since the handover almost seven years ago. It will not be the last.
While the "interpretation" of the Basic Law, Hong Kong's miniconstitution, by the standing committee of the National People's Congress has removed from Hong Kong people any right to move toward full democracy, it has also ensured a prolonged confrontation between the SAR and the central government.
This is something that most people in Hong Kong had wanted to avoid. Organizers of the massive demonstrations last July 1 and on New Year's Day had carefully avoided any slogans that were critical of Beijing. Instead, they had praised the wisdom of the central government and concentrated their fire instead on Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa and his administration.