AFP, BEIJING January 17, 2010
Judicial independence cannot be taken for granted.
China on Friday condemned a bid by opposition Hong Kong legislators to force a de facto referendum on the territory¡¦s political system, saying such a vote would be illegal.
A statement released by China¡¦s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office expressed ¡§grave concern¡¨ over the plan, saying it was not in line with China¡¦s Constitution or the Basic Law, which spells out Hong Kong¡¦s political system.
¡§The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region¡¦s Basic Law does not provide for a referendum system,¡¨ said the statement, adding that a poll would have no legal effect.
Officials with Hong Kong¡¦s Civic Party said on Monday that five of the territory¡¦s 23 opposition lawmakers would quit this month to draw attention to the slow pace of democratic reforms in the city.
They will give up their seats in the former British colony¡¦s 60-seat legislature in the hope of speeding up progress toward direct elections, said Civic Party Secretary-General Kenneth Chan (³¯®a¬¥).
They hope that by resigning they can force by-elections that will become a de facto referendum on the controversial issue.
The five legislators, who will step down on Jan. 27, have not been named.
At present, only half of Hong Kong¡¦s legislature is directly elected.