Beijing
In an abrupt reversal of earlier promises, China announced this week that Hong Kong would not be permitted to elect its own chief executive in 2007. The decision is a clear rebuke by communist officials in Beijing of the territory’s growing democracy movement, which has challenged Beijing’s authority. China also backed out of a promise to allow Hong Kong to elect all of its legislators, saying that “universal suffrage” might cause political and economic instability. Pro-democracy advocates accused Beijing of violating Hong Kong’s Basic Law and the 1997 handover agreement with Britain. “This is terrible news,” said Hong Kong legislator Martin Lee. “They’re telling the whole world that Beijing will now run Hong Kong.”
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