HK deputies to NPC cool on reforms

By Peter Lim

HONG KONG (AFP): Despite lingering international concerns over autonomy and the rule of law in Hong Kong, the issues are unlikely to be raised by local delegates to China's rubber-stamp parliament, analysts said.

At the once-a-year session of the National People's Congress (NPC), some 30 Hong Kong NPC representatives will present their views on national issues but will duck the territory's political future, they said.

Analysts also point to divisions among Hong Kong deputies, with some tending to be hawkish while others are known to be reluctant to discuss any issues relating to Hong Kong political development.

"We will not see any move to raise politically sensitive issues over Hong Kong in the current NPC," said Sonny Lo, director at the Hong Kong Transition Project, a private research group monitoring Hong Kong following its 1997 return to Chinese sovereignty.

Lo said Beijing will tolerate discussion on economic issues, including Hong Kong's economic future when China enters the World Trade Organization.

"But from the perspective of the central government in Beijing, discussion on Hong Kong political issues would be tantamount to interference of the 'one-country, two systems,' policy, " he said.

The China-promulgated Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini constitution, lays down the foundation the "one country, two system" administration of Hong Kong, under which the territory is guaranteed a high degree of autonomy.

There have been growing concerns by human rights groups, including the Hong Kong Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International Hong Kong, that Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa has undermined the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary in the past year.

A recent U.S. Department of State report said decisions last year to not prosecute business tycoon Sally Aw and the local branch of the Xinhua News Agency had undermined the rule of law in Hong Kong.

There was also international criticism last year when the NPC standing committee overruled a decision by Hong Kong's Court of Final Affairs on right of abode. The re-interpretation of a section of the Basic Law denied more than a million mainlanders the right to settle in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong human rights activists, who called on UN human rights commissioner Mary Robinson ahead of her visit to Beijing last week, have expressed concerns about Hong Kong's political structure, citing lack of direct legislative elections.

They also want a statutory human rights commission to investigate complaints of abuses.

But Joseph Cheng, a political commentator at City University, said there would be nothing noteworthy on what Hong Kong deputies had to say at the NPC.

"They don't carry much weight in matters relating to political development in Hong Kong," he said, noting the deputies had all been handpicked.

"Our deputies will not be encouraged to discuss issues relating to Hong Kong political affairs."

Cheng said Hong Kong people were a "practical bunch" who would only approach the NPC representatives "if they have problems in the mainland, including problems in business or property deals."

Local pro-China newspapers, however, have been upbeat on what Hong Kong deputies can contribute to the NPC.

In a commentary carried in China-backed Wen Wei Po, Liang Xi urged the delegates to have a "wider vision" on matters relating to the country, saying "they must fully realize the concerns of the compatriots of Hong Kong and Macau on the motherland's reform and oneness, economic development, and social advancement."

Tung as usual was honored at the opening of the NPC session which opened on Sunday, sitting along members of the politburo and later meeting with President Jiang Zemin and Vice Premier Qian Qichen.