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Hong Kong activists say unofficial poll turnout sends message to Beijing on democracy
ABC Radio Australia - June 24, 2014
The poll allows residents to choose between three options on how they want to directly elect their head of local government from 2017.
Chinese state-run media has dismissed the referendum as an "illegal farce", insisting that the proposals violate Hong Kong's Basic Law.
Anson Chan was Hong Kong's number two official when the UK handed the colony back to China in 1997. "I would like the international community to be alert to what is happening in Hong Kong," she said.
"Australia, like America and the United Kingdom, were all hugely in support of the joint declaration on the future of Hong Kong when it was signed 30 years ago.
"And that joint declaration promised the people of Hong Kong and, in fact, announced to the world at large that Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy other than in defence and foreign relations, which are the responsibilities of the central government in Beijing."
Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under the formula of "one country, two systems". It was given wide-ranging autonomy and an undated promise of universal suffrage.
Hong Kong's leader is currently appointed by a 1,200-strong pro-Beijing committee. China has promised direct elections for the next chief executive in 2017, but has ruled out allowing voters to choose which candidates can stand.
"What little autonomy we enjoy is for Beijing to give and to take back at its pleasure," Ms Chan said. "So it's little wonder that we in Hong Kong are extremely concerned."
Pro-democracy legislator Charles Mok says the proposal of civil nominations is in line with international standards.
"I think the bottom line is that with this particular civic referendum the people of Hong Kong are not necessarily simply making a declaration about the need or the strong desire for civic nomination, which I believe everybody agrees that this is the best, the best that we can achieve," he said.
"In reality I think most people in Hong Kong are worried that they are not going to get anything close to being in consistent with international standards."
Former chief secretary Anson Chan shares that concern. "We see universal suffrage not just as a basic human right but as a way of giving legitimacy to our chief executive," she said.
"Without a popular mandate, this government is finding it more and more difficult to govern Hong Kong effectively. And if they cannot govern Hong Kong effectively then it affects not just the average man in the street but the entire business community."
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