Beijing, Apr 26: In a blow to Hong Kong's ambitions to democratically elect its next Chief Executive, the Chinese Parliament today rejected the possibility of universal suffrage in the former British colony. "The method of universal suffrage shall not apply to the election of the third chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in 2007, nor to the election of all members of the fourth legislative council of the hksar in 2008," the standing committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body said.
Beijing's decision ruled out what many Hong Kong residents have been demanding, the right to democratically elect a successor to the current Chief Executive, Tung Chee-Hwa in 2007 and all lawmakers in 2008.
Tung, hand-picked by Beijing, has been Hong Kong's top leader ever since the former British colony was handed over to China on July 01, 1997. The NPC standing committee shocked Hong Kong earlier this month by issuing a ruling that any electoral reforms in the Chinese territory must have prior approval of Beijing. The committee said it favoured modification of the existing methods for selecting the Hong Kong's Chief Executive in 2007 and forming the legislative council in 2008.
Bureau Report