Hong Kong police used pepper spray to disperse pro-democracy activists yesterday as the Asian financial centre braces for a wave of disruptive protests against China’s decision to rule out full democracy.
China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee set the stage for a political showdown late on Sunday when it rejected democrats’ demands for the right to freely choose Hong Kong’s next leader in 2017, leading scores of protesters to take to the streets.
Scuffles broke out yesterday during a tense stand-off at the entrance to a centre where a senior Chinese official was explaining Beijing’s decision, prompting police to use pepper spray amid chaotic scenes inside and outside the venue.
Activists from a movement called Occupy Central have threatened to lock down Hong Kong’s financial district on an unspecified date unless Beijing grants full democracy.
“Occupy Central is an illegal activity. If we give in, it will trigger more illegal activities,” said Li Fei, deputy secretary general of the NPC Standing Committee, who flew to Hong Kong to explain Beijing’s decision.
Pro-democracy activists inside the building heckled Li, shouting slogans and interrupting his speech. Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with wide-ranging autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland under a policy of “one country, two systems”.
Occupy Central is an illegal activity. If we give in, it will trigger more illegal activities
The activists want universal suffrage, but Communist Party rulers in Beijing say any candidate for the territory’s chief executive has to be first approved by a nominating panel - likely to be stacked with pro-Beijing loyalists and making it almost impossible for an Opposition democrat to get on the ballot.
If Hong Kong lawmakers voted down the package, governing Hong Kong would become much more difficult, Li said.
The next leader would again be chosen by a small committee without any form of popular vote. But Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying tried to cast the NPC decision in a good light, saying: “There is still room for discussion in regards to the issue in Hong Kong legislation.”
Dressed in black and wearing yellow ribbons, members of the democratic camp were escorted out of the auditorium after they shouted and held up signs reading “shameful” and saying Beijing had lost credibility.