5 Hong Kong legislators quit, seek democracy
By Associated Press | January 27, 2010
HONG KONG - Five Hong Kong opposition legislators resigned yesterday to pressure Beijing for direct elections in what some consider a desperate bid to revive the campaign for democracy in this semiautonomous former British colony.
Flashing victory signs, the lawmakers from the League of Social Democrats and Civic Party held up their resignation letters for photographers before handing them over to the secretary of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council.
“My resignation is in keeping with my campaign promise. I want to fight for direct elections,’’ said lawmaker Alan Leong. “Today’s resignations are meaningful. Today’s resignations are proactive.’’
A British outpost for more than 150 years, this wealthy financial hub of 7 million people was returned to China’s communist regime 13 years ago under a special political status that promises Western-style government and civil liberties.
But Beijing has withheld democracy. The territory’s leader is chosen by an 800-member committee and its legislature is half elected, half chosen by interest groups.
China ruled in 2007 that Hong Kong can’t elect its leader until 2017 and its entire legislature until 2010.
Hong Kong’s democracy activists say locals are ready now to choose their leaders. In their latest campaign, the two opposition parties hope to pressure China by having the five legislators - one from each of Hong Kong’s five electoral districts - resign, forcing a special election that would pit prodemocracy and pro-China candidates against one another in what they say will be a de facto referendum on democracy.
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