SOSC005 SOSC005 Government and Government and

PoliticsPolitics

Lecture 2Lecture 2

Political Development Political Development and Changeand Change

(A) Major Events before (A) Major Events before 80s80s

Relative low participation Relative low participation before 67, due to: before 67, due to:

- lack of channelslack of channels- economic hardshipeconomic hardship- refugee societyrefugee society- lack of identification with HKlack of identification with HK- high-handedness towards high-handedness towards

public protestspublic protests

Political Effect of 67 Political Effect of 67 riotsriots(a)(a) Leftists became very unpopular. Leftists became very unpopular.

- more +ve impression towards colonial govt. - more +ve impression towards colonial govt. - more -ve attitude towards Chi govt. & - more -ve attitude towards Chi govt. & communism. communism.

(b)(b) Welfare and labor reforms in 70s Welfare and labor reforms in 70s

(c)(c) Colonial govt. began to listen more to Colonial govt. began to listen more to public opinion and more tolerant of public opinion and more tolerant of protests in 70s— so-called consultative protests in 70s— so-called consultative democracy (democracy (諮詢式民主諮詢式民主 ))

Student movements and pressure Student movements and pressure group movements demanded social group movements demanded social reforms from colonial govt. but reforms from colonial govt. but seldom touched on issues of political seldom touched on issues of political reform.reform.

Local educated youth began to Local educated youth began to

become more concerned about HK.become more concerned about HK.

Major political dividing line between Major political dividing line between Right (pro-KMT (Right (pro-KMT ( 國民黨國民黨 ) masses) & ) masses) & Left (pro-CCP masses).Left (pro-CCP masses).

(B) Politicization & (B) Politicization & Democratization in 80s & 90sDemocratization in 80s & 90s

Sino-British negotiations in Sino-British negotiations in 82-84 politicized HK 82-84 politicized HK population. population.

Britain began to push limited Britain began to push limited democratization with District democratization with District Board(Board(區議會區議會 ) elections in ) elections in 82. 82.

Political groups began to Political groups began to participate in partial elections participate in partial elections and demand democratization. and demand democratization.

Joint Declaration: Joint Declaration: - post-97 Legco “will be constituted by post-97 Legco “will be constituted by

elections”elections”- CE will be selected “by consultation CE will be selected “by consultation

or elections locally”or elections locally”

JCPDG (JCPDG ( 民主政制促進聯委會／民促會民主政制促進聯委會／民促會 ) ) pushed for a directly-elected CE and a pushed for a directly-elected CE and a fully-elected Legco. fully-elected Legco.

Chinese govt. not favor rapid Chinese govt. not favor rapid democratic devt in HK. HK democratic devt in HK. HK business sector was also largely business sector was also largely conservative.conservative.

Drafting process of the Basic Law Drafting process of the Basic Law

(85-90) was a struggle b/w several (85-90) was a struggle b/w several

forces and arrived at a formula of forces and arrived at a formula of

quite gradual democratization. quite gradual democratization.

Method of election for the CE & Method of election for the CE &

Legco was quite weighted in favor of Legco was quite weighted in favor of

business & professional sectors. business & professional sectors.

The British DimensionThe British DimensionBefore 89, British thought that Chi Before 89, British thought that Chi

govt. did not agree to rapid govt. did not agree to rapid democratization in HK. democratization in HK.

The concept of “through train” (The concept of “through train” ( 直通直通車車 ))

Britain cooperated with China and Britain cooperated with China and delayed democratization in HK, not delayed democratization in HK, not going to antagonize China over issue going to antagonize China over issue of democracy in HK. of democracy in HK.

89 Tiananmen Crackdown89 Tiananmen Crackdown(a)(a) HK people became more supportive of HK people became more supportive of

democracy and afraid of Chinademocracy and afraid of China

(b)(b) Confidence in HK weakenedConfidence in HK weakened

(c)(c) Beijing became more wary of effect of HK Beijing became more wary of effect of HK on mainland politicson mainland politics

(d)(d) China’s int’l image was tarnished; British China’s int’l image was tarnished; British govt. was under pressure to do sth about govt. was under pressure to do sth about HK.HK.

Conservative Govt. was under Conservative Govt. was under pressure from opposition, media, pressure from opposition, media, from HK, and int’l community, on from HK, and int’l community, on what protection it could give to HK what protection it could give to HK people after 1997. people after 1997.

Britain changed its policy to more Britain changed its policy to more confrontational against China, on confrontational against China, on issue of democracy. Appointing Chris issue of democracy. Appointing Chris Patten (Patten ( 彭定康彭定康 ) as the last Governor ) as the last Governor was a result.was a result.

Patten’s Reform PackagePatten’s Reform Package

(a) lower the voting age from 21 to 18(a) lower the voting age from 21 to 18

(b) abolish all appointed seats (about 1/3) in (b) abolish all appointed seats (about 1/3) in District Boards and Municipal CouncilsDistrict Boards and Municipal Councils

(c) expand franchise of FC to all 2.7 million of (c) expand franchise of FC to all 2.7 million of working population of HKworking population of HK

(d) Election Committee will be formed by all (d) Election Committee will be formed by all District Board members.District Board members.

(e) 20 directly-elected seats by “single-member (e) 20 directly-elected seats by “single-member constituency” system(constituency” system( 單議席單票制單議席單票制 ))

China declared that Patten proposal China declared that Patten proposal had “three violations” (had “three violations” ( 三違反三違反 ): ):

(a) violate Joint Declaration(a) violate Joint Declaration (b) violate Basic Law, (b) violate Basic Law, (c ) violate secret agreement b/w Chi (c ) violate secret agreement b/w Chi

& British Foreign Ministers in 90. & British Foreign Ministers in 90.

Patten proposal was passed and Patten proposal was passed and elections in 94-5 were based on elections in 94-5 were based on Patten’s formula. Patten’s formula.

China disbanded the elected councils China disbanded the elected councils in 97 and changed electoral formulas in 97 and changed electoral formulas afterwards. afterwards.

Political effects of Pattern Political effects of Pattern DebateDebate

(a)(a) Further hurt the relationship between Further hurt the relationship between the Central Govt and the democratsthe Central Govt and the democrats

(b) Political scene in HK more polarized (b) Political scene in HK more polarized with more hostilities b/t different with more hostilities b/t different political forcespolitical forces

(c ) China’s suspicions on former (c ) China’s suspicions on former colonial officials, indirectly drove colonial officials, indirectly drove them to pick an outsider (C. H. Tung) them to pick an outsider (C. H. Tung) as the first CEas the first CE

(C) Debate on Democratization (C) Debate on Democratization after 97after 97

Few debates on issue of Few debates on issue of democratization before 2003democratization before 2003

Non-elected nature of SAR Non-elected nature of SAR government, and FC seats remained a government, and FC seats remained a subject of attack for democrats and subject of attack for democrats and other critics.other critics.

Non-elected nature created pressures Non-elected nature created pressures to legitimize the govt. by performance. to legitimize the govt. by performance.

Post-97 system unable to cope with:Post-97 system unable to cope with:- rising demands from the public for rising demands from the public for

participationparticipation- increasingly critical media and the increasingly critical media and the

massesmasses- rising expectations on govt. performancerising expectations on govt. performance- increased complexity of governing increased complexity of governing

issuesissues- various difficulties facing HK after 97. various difficulties facing HK after 97.

Bad performance of SAR govt (and Tung) Bad performance of SAR govt (and Tung) and econ downturn fueled demand for and econ downturn fueled demand for political reform by ‘03. political reform by ‘03.

Article 23 debate as a triggering pt.Article 23 debate as a triggering pt.

(D) Article 23 & Political (D) Article 23 & Political Development of HKSARDevelopment of HKSAR

Article 23: Article 23: 「香港特別行政區「香港特別行政區應自行立法禁止任何叛國、分裂應自行立法禁止任何叛國、分裂國家、煽動叛亂、顛覆中央人民國家、煽動叛亂、顛覆中央人民政府及竊取國家機密的行為，禁政府及竊取國家機密的行為，禁止外國的政治性組織或團體在香止外國的政治性組織或團體在香港特別行政區進行政治活動，禁港特別行政區進行政治活動，禁止香港特別行政區的政治性組織止香港特別行政區的政治性組織或團體與外國的政治性組織或團或團體與外國的政治性組織或團體建立聯繫。」體建立聯繫。」

Article 23 legislation was dropped. Article 23 legislation was dropped. Movement quickly transformed to Movement quickly transformed to demand direct election of CE by ‘07 demand direct election of CE by ‘07 and Legco fully-elected in ‘08and Legco fully-elected in ‘08

Sep ‘02, SAR govt.’s proposals Sep ‘02, SAR govt.’s proposals - Vagued Legislation Vagued Legislation - Fear of hurting HK’s freedomFear of hurting HK’s freedom- Bad attitude of Regina IpBad attitude of Regina Ip- Econ hardship by SARSEcon hardship by SARS- Govt’s inability to handle SARSGovt’s inability to handle SARS- 500,000 march on Jul 1 03500,000 march on Jul 1 03

Article 45 of the Basic Law:Article 45 of the Basic Law:「行政長官的「行政長官的

產生辦法根據香港特別行政區的實際情況和循序漸產生辦法根據香港特別行政區的實際情況和循序漸

進的原則而規定，最終達至由一個有廣泛的代表性進的原則而規定，最終達至由一個有廣泛的代表性

的提名委員會按民主程序提名後普選產生的目的提名委員會按民主程序提名後普選產生的目

標。」標。」

Article 68:Article 68:「立法會的產生辦法根據香港特別行「立法會的產生辦法根據香港特別行

政區的實際情況和循序漸進的原則而規定，最終達政區的實際情況和循序漸進的原則而規定，最終達

至全部議員由普選產生的目標。」至全部議員由普選產生的目標。」 ..

BL Annexes I and II only BL Annexes I and II only specify election methods for specify election methods for CE and Legco up to 07/08. CE and Legco up to 07/08.

Changing it needs 2/3 of Changing it needs 2/3 of Legco members, CE, and to Legco members, CE, and to NPCSC (NPCSC (人大常委人大常委 ) for record ) for record or approval. or approval.

NPCSC verdict on 26/4/04 NPCSC verdict on 26/4/04 ruled that:ruled that:

- CE in ’07 won’t be elected CE in ’07 won’t be elected by universal suffrageby universal suffrage

- proportion of functional and proportion of functional and directly-elected seats won’t directly-elected seats won’t be changed in ‘08. be changed in ‘08.