THERE IS NO CHINA:

Hong Kong's make-believe election: Nobody doubts that Donald Tsang will be returned as chief executive. But China is under pressure to allow a more open contest next time (The Economist, 3/15/07)

To democrats' surprise, a new election committee chosen last December had just enough members of the right bent to enable a pro-democracy candidate--Alan Leong, a barrister and a member of the local mini-parliament known as the Legislative Council (LegCo)--to be nominated for the first time.

In the last two elections for chief executive there was no contest and, according to Mr Leong, the government in Beijing had not expected opposition this time either. Mr Tsang is now having to put on a show of electioneering. In the televised debate on March 1st with Mr Leong, he appeared uncomfortable and defensive. Mr Leong noted that the public had not been invited to the event; only members of the election committee were allowed in and the few pro-democracy protesters who burst into the venue were bundled out. Another debate was due to take place on March 15th with questions from the public. Mr Leong says the political landscape of Hong Kong has been changed for good; no chief executive could expect to be elected again without having to face the people.

The election comes at a crucial juncture in Hong Kong's post-colonial development. According to the Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini-constitution which was approved by China in 1990 and took effect when the British left in 1997, the territory's ultimate aim is to have universal suffrage. Many in Hong Kong had thought this could happen this year for the chief-executive election, and next year for the semi-democratic legislature.

But China's rulers decreed three years ago that Hong Kong would not be ready for democracy so soon. Pressure is now growing on Mr Tsang to set a target date.

Democratic rhetoric has a funny way of creating democratic reality.

MORE:
First-ever debates become must-see TV for Hong Kong voters (GEOFFREY YORK, 3/16/07, Globe and Mail)

The two contenders stood toe-to-toe in the debating ring yesterday, firing their best rhetorical jabs as they battled for the right to become Hong Kong's next leader.

It would be a normal scene in many countries, but this was something historic: a televised debate on Chinese soil between two politicians of sharply opposing views, arguing over the future of democracy.

It's a risky new tactic by Hong Kong's pro-democracy activists. Instead of boycotting an election where the rules are rigged in favour of Beijing, the democrats have decided to contest the March 25 election. The televised debates, the first in Hong Kong's history, have sparked fresh interest in a democracy movement that had seemed to be fading from the public stage.

By generating a new buzz over an election controlled by just 800 voters, the democrats have created more pressure for universal suffrage in this former British colony. At least two million people out of Hong Kong's seven million watched the first televised debate on March 1, and an equally large audience had been expected to tune in last night for the second.

New law strengthens China's private property rights (Staff and agencies, March 16, 2007, Guardian Unlimited)

China today took a further step away from its communist past as parliament passed legislation strengthening private property rights for individuals and companies. [...]

It had been vigorously opposed by a small but influential group of scholars and retired officials, who described it as a move towards unrestrained privatisation that would further widen social divisions.

The law, which has been debated for 14 years, effectively puts the final, official seal on the way China's still officially communist economic system has been transformed by private enterprise and foreign investment over the past three decades.

The economy is increasingly dominated by the private sector, which now accounts for 65% percent of China's gross national product.

Along with private businesses, the new law also aims to bolster the rights of homebuyers who have pushed the urban home ownership rate to more than 80%.

It is also intended to help farmers who have frequently lost their land to infrastructure and housing projects with little or no compensation.

China Backs Property Law, Buoying Middle Class (JOSEPH KAHN, 3/16/07, NY Times)

After more than a quarter-century of market-oriented economic policies and record-setting growth, China on Friday enacted its first law to protect private property explicitly.

The measure, which was delayed a year ago amid vocal opposition from resurgent socialist intellectuals and old-line, left-leaning members of the ruling Communist Party, is viewed by its supporters as building a new and more secure legal foundation for private entrepreneurs and the country's urban middle-class home and car owners.

There are folks who sweat that China will be able to maintain political authoritarianism while allowing protestantism and capitalism--seems a dubious proposition based on human history.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 16, 2007 12:00 AM