February 18, 2004

MEMORANDUM TO: OPINION LEADERS

FROM: ELLEN BORK & GARY SCHMITT

SUBJECT: Hong Kong: Patriot Games

New threats against democracy and democrats in Hong Kong demand a response from the U.S. and the other governments that promised to defend Hong Kong's freedoms after its return to mainland rule.

Last Sunday, a senior Chinese official reportedly stated that Beijing is prepared to dissolve Hong Kong's legislature if pro-democracy politicians win a majority of seats in elections next September ("China Warns Hong Kong: Don't Stray Too Far," The Straits Times, February 18, 2004). Pro-democracy candidates routinely win a majority of the popular vote despite being limited to a minority of seats in the legislature. In next September's elections, half of the seats are to be selected by popular vote; others are chosen in smaller polls dominated by business and other groups. The popularity of pro-democracy candidates in a few of these other constituencies might give control of the legislature to Hong Kong democrats.

This latest threat comes hard on the heals of accusations by Beijing that the citizens of Hong Kong who seek democracy are "unpatriotic" - a charge that one day could land pro-democracy activists in jail on treason charges. The warning came in an official Xinhua (New China News Agency) press statement designed to deter the people of Hong Kong from continuing their efforts to secure democracy soon ("'Patriots Should Govern Hong Kong'," South China Morning Post, February 11, 2004). Beijing's proxies in Hong Kong have made similar threats, and one Beijing official recently accused pro-democracy legislators of advocating independence for Taiwan and having designs to overthrow the central government.

This year is shaping up to be decisive for the future of democracy and civil liberties in Hong Kong. But, as yet, Washington has not responded to Beijing's newest threats.

At the time of Hong Kong's return to mainland rule, many U.S. officials and elected representatives promised to defend Hong Kong's autonomy and freedoms. And of course, the U.S.-Hong Kong Policy Act conditions Hong Kong's treatment under U.S. law on the territory maintaining a high degree of autonomy. It behooves those who pledged to defend Hong Kong's freedoms and institutions to fulfill their commitments. Rejecting insidious accusations aimed at Hong Kong's democrats would be a good start. And making democracy for Hong Kong a priority in U.S.-China relations would be the next step.