Beijing will not allow full democracy in Hong Kong in 2007, despite growing demands in the territory for universal suffrage and a constitution that leaves open such a possibility, Hong Kong newspapers said on Monday.Talks between Hong Kong and Beijing on election reforms are just a show, and Beijing has already ruled out direct elections for the next chief executive in 2007, the South China Morning Post said, quoting a local source close to China’s government.The source, who was not identified, said Beijing would take a tougher position on Hong Kong if pro-democracy forces become the dominant power in the territory’s top law-making body in elections in September, and work against China-backed leaders.The source did not spell out what Beijing would do, but said it could develop its own plan to deal with the situation. In 1997, Beijing established a provisional legislature and effectively dismantled electoral changes made by Britain in the waning years of colonial rule.‘‘According to my interpretation, they won’t allow universal suffrage in 2007 unless they don’t care about Hong Kong any more,’’ Raymond Wu, a Hong Kong deputy to the National People’s Congress, said.Wu said recent Opposition to the Hong Kong government’s proposed anti-subversion law might have discouraged Beijing from allowing popular elections. Half a million people poured into the streets last July to denounce attempts by Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-Hwa to push through the tough Security Bill, which critics feared would be used against anyone critical of China.Hong Kong’s constitution allows the possibility of direct elections for chief executive and all of the Legislative Council from 2007. But it also says Beijing must approve any election reforms, which means China has the final say.China’s Communist Party clearly fears growing demands for full democracy could threaten its control over the territory and possibly spread to mainland China. —(Reuters)
