HONG KONG -- A controversial plan to extend democracy in Hong Kong died Dec. 21 when the legislature failed to pass it by a big enough majority. Hopes of true democracy in the special region of China have thus been put into deep freeze, with recriminations reverberating from Hong Kong to Beijing and back.
What happened shows two things: China has betrayed its fine promises for Hong Kong; and the city continues to suffer from inept leadership that is not prepared to stand up for Hong Kong. Unfortunately, too, when it comes to discussions of "democracy" in Hong Kong, Humpty Dumpty* seems to be in charge.
Chief Executive Sir Donald Tsang had proposed changes to the system for the 2007 and 2008 elections of the chief executive and the legislative council, respectively. The chief executive would be chosen by 1,600 of Hong Kong's 7 million people, compared to the mere 800 previously. And 10 seats would be added to the legislative council, although only half by direct election so that the number of directly elected members would remain at half.