Hong Kong set for unofficial democracy 'referendum'

Sep 11, 2007, 11:21 GMT

Hong Kong - Hong Kong is set to have an unofficial referendum on democracy in December after a pro-democracy champion declared Tuesday that she plans to run for a seat on the legislature.

Anson Chan, the former civil service boss who resigned because of political differences with pro-Beijing then-chief executive Tung Chee-hwa in 2001, formally declared herself a candidate in December's election, a week after insisting she would not run.

The popular 67-year-old was expected to contest the seat against high-profile pro-Beijing candidate Regina Ip, Hong Kong's former secretary for security who stepped down after protests over controversial anti-sedition laws she tried to introduce.

The election, for a seat left vacant by the death in August of pro-China party leader Ma Lik, is seen as an unofficial referendum on universal suffrage in the former British colony if Ip confirms her candidacy.

Hong Kong is currently in the midst of a consultation period over political reforms, but the city's Beijing-appointed administration has been accused of using the process to stall moves toward greater democracy.

Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, Chan, viewed as a champion of democracy in Hong Kong, said she decided to run after realizing the depth of support for her in the community.

'I have come to the conclusion that you need a political platform to make your voice more effectively heard,' said Chan, known as Hong Kong's 'Iron Lady' when she served as deputy leader under Tung.

'This by-election has come at a very crucial time in Hong Kong's history,' she said. 'We are engaged in this very important consultation exercise on the green paper' for political reform.

Chan also said she wanted Chief Executive Donald Tsang to 'take a more robust stance' in defending the integrity of Hong Kong in his dealings with Beijing and to be more of a 'buffer' between the people and the central government.

'Unfortunately, all of us common citizens have no direct access to the central government,' she said. 'If we can't rely on our chief executive to relay our concerns, who can we rely on?'

Ip said she 'respected' Chan's decision to stand. She confirmed she was considering standing herself and said Chan's candidacy would not affect her decision.

Some commentators have speculated that Ip - seen as a shoo-in until Tuesday - would withdraw rather than risk a humiliating defeat, while others said she is too tough to duck the challenge.

Hong Kong, which reverted to Chinese rule in 1997 after 156 years as a British colony, has greater freedoms than the rest of China under a 'one country, two systems' arrangement.

However, there is no popular vote for the position of chief executive and only half of the city's 60 legislators are directly elected.

The terms of Hong Kong's mini-constitution technically allow for full democracy from 2007, but both Beijing and the Hong Kong administration have so far declined to put a date on universal suffrage.