Hong Kong's election Suffrage on sufferance Sep 16th 2004

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2005

Thursday Apr 28, 2005 ts
ec chart
Hong Kong enjoys the most economic freedom of any of the 127 countries or territories in the Economic Freedom of the World Index, created by the Fraser Institute, a Canadian think-tank. The index measures how far a country's policies and institutions support property rights, personal choice and competition. The index also favours sound money and small government. Plucky Estonia ranks ninth, while Venezuela ranks only a few places above the trammelled economy of Myanmar.

Thursday Apr 28, 2005 ts
Old foes reach out across Taiwan Strait
HONG KONG—Turning history on its head, two erstwhile enemies shook hands in Beijing`s Great Hall of the People yesterday, dramatically reducing tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

Thursday Apr 28, 2005 The standing committee of China's National People's Congress has issued a ruling on the major political question in Hong Kong. The committee has ruled that the successor to former Hong Kong administrator Tung Chee-hwa will serve out only the remaining two years of his second five-year term. Mr. Tung resigned last month. Hong Kong's Basic Law stipulates that the territory's administrator must serve a five-year term. After the local government ruled that his successor could only serve two years, pro-democracy supporters responded by denouncing the decision as a broach of Hong Kong's autonomy and demanded that the administrator serve five years. The territorial government reacted by requesting a decision by the central authorities, which has now come down. The founder of Hong Kong's Democratic Party, Martin Lee, has in his turn reacted by calling the outcome a "mortal wound to the rule of law."

Monday Apr 18, 2005 ts
Demonstrators scuffle with Chinese police during a protest yesterday near a Japanese department store in Shenzhen. Anger rising in the East
HONG KONG—Sixty years after the last shots were fired, Japan and China are waging a diplomatic war of words — exacerbated by street violence in the mainland`s major cities — that is raising alarm across East Asia.
Fresh marches over the weekend by anti-Japanese protestors capped month-long protests that have plunged bilateral ties to their lowest level since diplomatic relations were normalized three decades ago

Sunday Mar 13, 2005 China's parliament accepted the resignation of Hong Kong's chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, on Saturday. Shortly afterwards, Mr. Tung was elected as a senior adviser to parliament. The promotion to a senior position is considered a face-saving measure that allows the unpopular leader to make a graceful exit from the former British territory. Mr. Tung, 67, officially resigned on Thursday, citing poor health. His nearly eight years in office were marked by huge pro-democracy demonstrations, a number of economic recessions, and accusations that he was a puppet of the central government in Beijing. Elections to choose a new chief executive for Hong Kong will be held on July 10. The date was announced by Donald Tsang, Hong Kong's chief secretary who was appointed to act as interim leader. Most people in the former British colony will not be allowed to participate in the election. A candidate will be chosen by the same electoral college of 800 Hong Kong members who voted for Mr. Tung. The members are largely pro-Beijing businessmen and professionals. The term of office for the new leader in Hong Kong is generating controversy. Mr. Tsang says that the new leader will serve out only the two years remaining at the end of Mr. Tung's term. But the Basic Law that governs Hong Kong stipulates that any new leader must serve a full five years. The proposed shortened term could lead opposition parties to mount legal challenges. China's justice secretary, Elsie Leung, contends that there is no infraction of the Basic Law because the new leader will complete an unfinished term, not start a new one.

Monday Mar 7, 2005 Tung Chee-hwa will answer questions about his future as Hong Kong's leader at what he calls "an appropriate time." Mr. Tung made the comment on Sunday after meeting the day before with China's premier, Wen Jiabao. Mr. Tung declined to say whether they discussed speculation about his resignation two years before his term. Mr. Tung's work in Hong Kong was praised on Saturday at the annual National People's Congress in Beijing, in what political observers described as a tactic to prepare him for his dismissal from the Hong Kong post. Chinese leaders have criticized him in the recent past. The government has made no effort to discount rumours that Mr. Tung will become a vice-chairman of the major policy-making body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, next week.

Thursday Mar 3, 2005 ts
Gang of 800 to pick Hong Kong chief
HONG KONG—In this port city of 7 million people, only 800 truly count.

Wednesday Mar 2, 2005 ts
Hong Kong`s leader to step down
HONG KONG—Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong`s embattled chief executive, will step down as early as this month when he accepts a face-saving appointment by the Chinese government, according to local newspapers.

NYTimes Advanced

Dec 7, 2004 ts A woman wears a mask in Beijing to avoid SARS, days before China hailed news of vaccine. China hails discovery of vaccine for SARS
HONG KONG—A vaccine against SARS has proven "safe and effective" in the first human tests, Chinese researchers have announced.

Monday Sep 13, 2004 bbc Pro-China win in Hong Kong vote
Pro-Beijing parties have kept their majority in Hong Kong's legislative council, winning 34 of the 60 seats on offer in Sunday's elections.
Pro-democracy parties, which had been expected to do well, increased their seats by just three, winning 25.

Monday Sep 13, 2004 cbc LIMITED ELECTION GAINS FOR HONG KONG PRO-DEMOCRACY SIDE Exit polls show pro-democracy politicians will fall short of expectations and end up with only one extra seat decided by direct vote Sunday in Hong Kong's legislative election.

Monday Sep 13, 2004 cbc PRO-DEMOCRACY SIDE TO MAKE GAINS IN HONG KONG VOTE Hong Kong voters go to the polls Sunday in an election that's expected to leave pro-democracy forces with more bargaining power in their demands for more democracy.

Sunday Sep 12, 2004 Voters in Hong Kong go to the polls on Sunday in important elections that political observers predict will determine the future strength of local democratic change. Voters will choose candidates for 60 seats in the Legislative Council. Pro-democracy parties now hold 22 council seats, and it's expected that their candidates will make strong gains over candidates supported by the central government in Beijing. A public opinion poll conducted on Saturday showed that 41 per cent of those polled supported the pro-democracy movement, and 24 per cent supported Beijing. Another 35 per cent were undecided. Pro-democracy advocates are encouraged that the number of seats to be filled by direct vote has increased from 24 to 30. The other 30 seats are determined by corporate and professional groups that typically choose pro-Beijing candidates. On Saturday, China announced new investment incentives for Hong Kong in an effort to gain last-minute voter support for pro-Beijing candidates.

Friday Jul 9, 2004 ts
HONG KONG—SARS has claimed its first political casualty here with the belated resignation of the physician-turned-politician who lost the public`s confidence by mishandling the outbreak.see SAES

Thursday Jul 1, 2004 cbc
20,000 MARCH FOR DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG More than 200,000 people marched through downtown Hong Kong on Thursday to demand democracy from China's Communist leaders.

Sunday Apr 18, 2004 Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong are calling their weekend street demonstration a success.
An estimated 15,000 people took to the streets of Hong Kong Sunday to protest against China's latest directive on the political future of the territory. It was the first mass protest in the territory since China's parliament interpreted clauses in Hong Kong's constitution last week. It gives Beijing full control over how and when Hong Kong chooses its leaders and lawmakers. The move has angered lawyers, rights groups and citizens in the territory who say it diminishes the high degree of autonomy China promised Hong Kong when it took back the British colony in 1997. And the leading force in Hong Kong's democracy movement, the Democratic Party, has invited reform-minded legislators of other parties to plan their next moves in stopping Beijing's moves in the former British colo

Wednesday Apr 7, 2004 ec
One country, one system
China’s insistence that any political reform in Hong Kong will have to be approved first by Beijing has badly undermined the territory’s independence

Wednesday Apr 7, 2004 ts
Hong Kong`s democratic hopes crushed BEIJING—Hong Kong democracy advocates protested the Chinese government`s declaration yesterday that it would determine if and when the territory`s people could elect their local leaders.

Sunday Aug 3, 2003 bbc
Hong Kong economy's record rise Hong Kong's economy recovers strongly after the Sars outbreak, reporting a record rise of 6.4% in the third quarter.

Sunday Aug 3, 2003 ts
Future is looking a little brighter for Hong Kong

2003-07-29 Hong Kong: De-Pegging The HK Dollar?
Our China Investment Strategy (CIS) service sees no possibility that China will agree to let the HK$ float in the immediate future, implying that price deflation in Hong Kong will persist.
Because of the currency peg, Hong Kong’s price structure has to deflate in order to restore competitiveness. The weakness in the U.S.$ has not helped ease deflationary pressures in Hong Kong, because most of Hong Kong’s trading partners have not let their currencies appreciate. On a purchasing power parity basis, the HK$ is still 24% overvalued. Although Chinese policymakers understand the problems caused by the currency peg, they will not break the peg in the intermediate term because it could provoke a major financial shock. Thus, price deflation and economic decay will persist in Hong Kong. bca chart

Thursday Jul 10, 2003 bbc

Analysis: China's concern at HK protests
Thousands of people in Hong Kong have demonstrated again, calling for the government to scrap a controversial security bill. They say it would erode the territory's political freedom and curb free speech.
Last week, 500,000 people marched through Hong Kong in the biggest anti-government demonstrations since the territory was handed back to China in 1997.
It is Hong Kong's second mass protest in just over a week

Sunday Jul 6, 2003 cbc
HONG KONG BACKS DOWN ON SECURITY LAWS The government of Hong Kong says it will scrap the most controversial parts of a proposed security bill after 500,000 people protested against the legislation Tuesday.

Tuesday Jul 1, 2003 bbc
Still one state, two systems?

Up to half a million people have protested in Hong Kong about a new law that threatens the freedoms guaranteed when the territory was handed back to China. Is Hong Kong’s democracy at risk? And where are the political reforms promised in China? see also TIME

Tuesday Jul 1, 2003 cbc
HUGE PROTEST OVER HONG KONG SECURITY LAW The largest demonstration since 1989 hit the streets of Hong Kong on Tuesday, as tens of thousands protested against a new anti-subversion law, set to pass within days.

Tuesday Jul 1, 1997 bbc
Hong Kong handed over to Chinese control
Hong Kong has been handed back to the Chinese authorities - ending more than 50 years of British control. The British flag was lowered over Government house - home to the last Governor Chris Patten for the past five years - at midnight last night.
[:35] the final moments of the handover

Tuesday Jul 1, 2003 China tightens HK trade ties
China's prime minister signs a free trade accord with Hong Kong, as opponents of Beijing plan a mass protest.

Monday Jun 23, 2003
Hong Kong declared Sars-free
Hong Kong is given the all-clear from the deadly Sars virus after it goes 20 days without a new case.

Friday Jun 6, 2003 globe
Remembering Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square still resonate in Hong Kong, where activists marked Wednesday's 14th anniversary by warning that civil liberties here could be crushed by a pending anti-subversion bill.
The Hong Kong government is about to gain legislative approval of the measure - which carries life prison sentences for many crimes against the state.
Critics fear the former British colony could find itself subjected to mainland-style suppression of unpopular views, although Hong Kong insists this is not an issue.
... Hoping to quell the criticism, Ms. Ip appeared before lawmakers on Tuesday and announced changes that will make some crimes harder to prosecute - for example by imposing a three-year statute of limitations for any prosecution of publishing seditious materials.
Any members of a group banned on national security grounds could not be prosecuted for actions committed before the ban, Ms. Ip told lawmakers. The opposition didn't buy it.
"The law would introduce Chinese legal standards through the back door, which would make it possible for the government to effectively shut down groups with ties to suspect mainland organizations like Falun Gong or the Roman Catholic Church," Mr. Lee wrote in an op-ed piece for The New York Times.
"Journalists, and government officials who leak information to them, could be subject to prison terms," Mr. Lee said.

Sunday Apr 6, 2003 The Hong Kong government Saturday announced that SARS has infected 39 more people in the territory. That brings the total number of cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome to 800. Hong Kong officials also said three more patients have died of the virus, bringing the local death toll from the disease to 20. The pneumonia-like disease, which is believed to have originated in southern China, hit the city in March and has been spread around the world by air travellers.

Sunday Apr 6, 2003 cbce
SARS TOLL CONTINUES TO RISE IN HONG KONG Thirty-nine more severe acute respiratory syndrome cases and three more deaths have been reported in Hong Kong. see w-n on SARS.asp

Friday Dec 20, 2002 ts
Deflation ends Hong Kong's party
Go-go, buy-buy days are over as economy tumbles Crash of property market seen at heart of decline

Friday Jun 28, 2002 ec Hong Kong After five years of Chinese rule over Hong Kong, the territory's chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, has taken his biggest step yet to reshape the political structure he inherited from Britain. On July 1st, the anniversary of the handover, a team of political appointees will take over the policymaking roles hitherto played by civil servants. The new “ministerial system”, as it is dubbed, may strengthen Mr Tung's power. But it will do little to make his lacklustre administration more popular

Thu May 16, 2002
Hong Kong Stocks: Technical Breakout Looming?

Watch for a breakout above 12,000 in the Hang Seng Index .
Our China Investment Strategy service has been long Hong Kong stocks, and the market has outperformed global indexes. The weak U.S. dollar and decreasing regional deflationary pressures are positive for Hong Kong. Importantly, the Hang Seng Index is close to breaking above a key technical level of 12,000. This was a critical support level during the post-1997 crisis rally, but has become a major resistance level since the market bottomed last September. A move above 12,000 would mark a significant technical breakout.


Diana,

Thought you might find this AP article interesting given our conversation this a.m. ****

HONG KONG (AP) -- In another setback for Hong Kong's new multibillion-dollar airport, 12 people connected with construction of its transportation network were arrested Tuesday on suspicion of bribery and corruption.

Two shareholders, five engineers and five employees of subcontractors are accused of using substandard materials for the construction of a station on the railway to the airport, the Independent Commission Against Corruption said.

The commission did not give any details on those arrested, nor did it disclose the extent of the damage to the Hong Kong Station in the territory's central business district.

"The investigation revealed that they may have accepted bribes," said commission spokeswoman Valentina Chan.

Raids on 33 sites that began Monday night yielded 14 handguns and about 1,000 rounds of ammunition. The commission said it did not know whether the guns belonged to any of those arrested, and turned the items over to police.

The Mass Transit Railway Corp., which operates the airport line, said all the railway stations are safe.

Television Broadcast Ltd. reported that the foundation of the railway station was not deep enough, adding that the commission investigation will include other railway stations, surrounding residential areas and an extension of the airport's passenger terminal.

The announcement followed a string of problems that have occurred since the $20 billion airport opened July 6, and seemed certain to increase the growing criticism of the airport management and government.

New Chek Lap Kok airport replaced Hong Kong's downtown Kai Tak airport to great expectations. But it immediately became ensnared in a series of problems with flight delays, baggage-handling and airport services.

The focus now has shifted to problems in the highly profitable cargo section: The main cargo handler had to put an embargo on most shipments last week to work through mechanical and computer problems.

Airport officials said Tuesday that passenger services were continuing to improve, with at least 90 percent of arrivals and departures occurring within a half-hour of the scheduled time and waits for baggage ranging from 15 to 25 minutes.

Hong Kong radio said seven cargo planes used the new airport Tuesday. Cargo flights partially resumed Sunday in an effort to clear some of the backlog built up since the airport opened.

Beijing has agreed that Hong Kong airlines could use Huangtian airport in southern Shenzhen city for the movement of cargo.

Sabra


On July 1, 1997, over a hundred and fifty years of British rule ended in Hong Kong as it returned to China. During its complex history, Hong Kong has grown from a nearly uninhabited island to a thriving, living city with over 6 million residents.

Wednesday, July 1, 1998 Hong Kong breathes a sigh of relief ONE YEAR OF CHINESE RULE / The boom's gone bust, but nobody blames Beijing. At least there are no tanks in the streets. By Rod Mickleburgh

Hong Kong -- WHEN the red flag of China went up over this former British colony one year ago today, two predictions seemed safe for the territory's 6.3 million anxious residents. The economy would continue to boom, and Communist Chinese authorities would be up to their eyeballs messing about in Hong Kong affairs. Both predictions proved wrong.

HONG KONG CHINA


Hong Kong


Dear David
       I want to confirm to you what you undoubtedly already know, namely how enjoyable last Wednesday evening (#800 July 2, 1997) was at 33 Rosemount Avenue. Several of the guests have spoken to me about the timeliness of the topic of Hong Kong and your own remarkable skill in condensing two days' audio-visual material into a fascinating, yet complete video. This left adequate time for interesting, informed discussion. The presence and differing views of Hung-Chieh (Craig) a Taiwan native and Khim Chong born in Singapore and educated in Taiwan, added the sense of balance, a sort of multidimensional view of the event.
        I understand that your tapes may be borrowed, and I certainly urge any Wednesday-nighters to do so so that they may recapture a little of the magic of the evening.
       To round off a most memorable Wednesday night, Harriet Solloway's return visit reminded us of the continuing frustrations experienced in Africa to-day, and to those of us who remember the regularity of Harriet's attendance in past years, of her sparkling, enthusiastic presence.
       Thanks for a wonderful evening,
        Herbert Bercovitz




The 800th Wednesday night sees Hong Kong tobe mired in a severe economic slump. They will get a long with each other like Québecers. An end to the "noon day sun"

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson,

It was a great night. The questions and comments given by those sagacious participants made the memorable #800 Wednesday Night an unforgettable experience for me.

I have to thank u for giving me the chance to express my opinion, in front of all wise and accomplished people, on the handover of Hong Kong. It's interesting for me to observe how Canadians look at Taiwan at this critical moment in history; by some accounts, Taiwan would be the next Hong Kong, returning to the so-called motherland. Certainly, a few Taiwanese have the same worry that the reversion of Hong Kong would stimulate Chinese government to launch earlier its idea of "liberating Taiwan". Most Taiwanese, however, have no that kind of fear. Taipei (the capital city of Taiwan) Stock Exchange soared two days before the handover, breaking 9,000 points to the highest in the last 7 years; on July 1st, a demonstration in Taipei asserted that "one country, two systems" can not and will not be accepted by Taiwan people, telling Chinese government and the world that Taiwan, a realistically independent country, will not be the next Hong Kong. Nevertheless, as a part of Chinese, Taiwanese are glad to see that Hong Kong belongs to Chinese again since the surrender of Hong Kong was a shame in Chinese history. In addition, I believe Taiwanese hope to see that the economic and political systems used in Hong Kong will be learned by Chinese government and then be enjoyed by people in the mainland.

Thanx again for giving me such a wonderful night.

Craig
Craig H.C. Chou MBA '97
McGill Univ., Montreal, QC, Canada
1806-3550 Jeanne Mance;;;Montreal;Quebec;H2X 3P7;Canada
email: hchou@PO-Box.McGill.CA
tel;home:(514) 289-1770


BATTERED

It was a nervous week for stockmarkets. South-East ASIA'S ECONOMIC PROBLEMS savaged shares in Hong Kong, which hit a 22-month low at one point on October 23rd as fund managers continue to bail out of the region. Fears that American interest rates would rise exacerbated the Hang Seng's bearishness. Other shares and currencies in Asia sagged. The Thai baht fell to new lows against the dollar. The Australian dollar hit a three-year low.



LINKS to 'Asia & Hong Kong'

 Hong Kong


Our Wednesday Night #821 Nov27 on APEC
Hong Kong in the CIA Factbook
The University of Hong Kong. Please see Inside China Today.
The Hong Kong Canada Business Association.

A Letter from Kuala Lumpur friends Dec '97

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