Hong Kong shows that China fears democracy

[dArKeR]

By Parris Chang ???

Saturday, Mar 13, 2004,Page 8

Before its takeover of Hong Kong, Beijing promised the people of Hong Kong and the international community the following things.

First, China would abide by the "one country, two systems" model, under which Hong Kong would be allowed to maintain political, economic and social systems different from China's for at least 50 years. Second, Hong Kong would be ruled by Hong Kong people, meaning that, according to the Basic Law, the chief executive and Legislative Council members would be locally elected, and would not be officials appointed by China.

The reason that the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping (???) was so lenient toward the territory was that he wanted to attract Taiwan with the Hong Kong model, thus achieving peaceful unification.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/03/13/2003102298