Posted on: Wednesday, September 15, 2004

EDITORIAL
Pro-democracy vote in Hong Kong falters

Recent elections in Hong Kong suggest that the impulse toward greater democracy and self-rule in that special region remains strong.

But as a practical matter, the electoral process has been managed by authorities in Beijing in such a way to make democratic gains almost meaningless.

The result, while perhaps pleasing to Beijing, is likely to be further frustration in Hong Kong among pro-democracy forces and heightened suspicion in Taiwan that any kind of political union with the mainland simply won't work.

It is estimated that as many as 67 percent of the record 1.7 million who voted in Hong Kong chose pro-democracy candidates.

But the rules of the game mean that these candidates will have little power to truly affect decisions in the Hong Kong legislature, or Legco. That's because many of the seats in the legislature were assigned according to "functional constituencies," professional organizations and the like, who tend to favor Beijing.

In short, the people of Hong Kong voted for change, but won't get it, at least not any time soon.

Hong Kong's leadership has argued that a free, open and functioning "one country, two systems" approach is the best model not just for Hong Kong but for the festering problem of Taiwan as well.

The latest results don't offer much confidence in that vision.