Cardinal Zen fears political 'reform' could hurt democracy in Hong Kong
June 21, 2010
Cardinal Joseph Zen, the retired Bishop of Hong Kong, has warned that political reforms introduced to promote democratic government in the Chinese province may actually have the opposite effect.
Just two days before a scheduled parliamentary vote on the proposed reforms, Cardinal Zen-- a veteran campaigner for democratic government in Hong Kong-- complained that the proposed changes would enhance the power of political elites to control a number of legislative seats. The reform plan increases the number of seats that are open to direct public election, but retains some other seats that are filled by “functional constituencies” composed of political and economic leaders who are generally sympathetic to the Beijing government.
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