AP News, May 21st, 2007
Britain wants to see universal suffrage introduced in its former colony of Hong Kong as soon as possible, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said Monday.
Beckett also played up the British legacy's role in the Chinese territory, dismissing suggestions that Britain's relationship with Hong Kong has diminished since the city returned to Chinese rule 10 years ago.
"The relationship the UK has with Hong Kong has changed _ yes. But diminished _ no," she said in a speech addressed to Hong Kong lawmakers and members of the business community.
"Indeed, in many ways it is a more mature, balanced and effective relationship than it has ever been," she said.
Beckett, who was in town during an eight-day trip to China, Hong Kong and Japan, emphasized that Britain wants Hong Kong to achieve full suffrage soon.
"Our position is clear: We want to see universal suffrage introduced in Hong Kong as soon as possible," she said.
Since the 1997 hand-over to Chinese rule, Hong Kong has been ruled under a "one country, two systems" principle, which promises the city self-administration and Western-style democratic freedoms the mainland does not have.
However, the public does not have the right to vote for their leader, who is chosen by an 800-seat election committee that usually goes with Beijing's preferred candidate.
China has maintained that Britain and other Western have no role to play in Hong Kong's political development.
Beckett said Britain shares China's satisfaction with what Hong Kong has achieved during the past 10 years, during which time, she said, the British legacy played a crucial part.
"They helped produce the unique and extraordinary hybrid which it today's Hong Kong: a fusion of British Administrative traditions with Chinese energy and entrepreneurship," she said.
Beckett met leader Donald Tsang, with whom she shared her views about the city, including constitutional development.
"I don't underestimate the difficulty of the obstacles inherent in political reform _ including the move to universal suffrage. But the prize is worth it," she said.
