Hong Kong in new political era as Beijing co-opts Democrats ANALYSIS 06/29/2010

Hong Kong in new political era as Beijing co-opts Democrats

ANALYSIS

06/29/2010
HONG KONG — After cold-shouldering Hong Kong’s oldest democratic force for years, China has redrawn the territory’s political map by bypassing its government to deal with the moderate opposition directly.

While ever-suspicious of full democracy, the communist government in Beijing has recognized the danger of letting more radical voices in Hong Kong’s opposition camp dictate the agenda, analysts said.

The financial hub, which returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997, last week adopted a package of political reforms that promises an incremental boost to democracy — but not universal suffrage, much to the radicals’ fury.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100629com7.html