BRIEF: Democracy Possible in HK by 2017

Photo of Donald Tsang at BBC News

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's chief executive, Donald Tsang, announced at a press conference Friday that a timetable has been set and Beijing will allow Hong Kong to pick its leader by universal suffrage by 2017.

Hong Kong's leader is currently chosen by an 800-member committee.

The city's pro-democracy camp, however, was disappointed in the 2017 date, hoping it would see democracy sooner in Hong Kong. China's parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC) ruled out democracy in 2012 as a possible date for universal suffrage, the second veto of its kind. The first was a 2004 decision that squashed hopes for full elections in 2007.

The 2017 date marks the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return from British to Chinese rule. Mr. Tsang said this was a "most important step" in Hong Kong's political future and is Beijing's clearest indication yet as to when full democracy might finally germinate.

For more information, please see:

AP - HK Granted Greater Democracy - 29 December 2007

Reuters - HK awaits key Beijing ruling on democracy reforms - 28 December 2007

Bloomberg - China Says Hong Kong May Pick Chief Executive in 2017 (Update1) - 29 December 2007