Hong Kong’s Tsang Pins Reputation on TV Debate Over Democracy
Frederik Balfour
Bloomberg
Donald Tsang will debate with Audrey Eu on changes to HK’s electoral system in 2012 on TV in a bid to salvage his reputation with the central government in Beijing.
Pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong say that the proposed 2012 package does not go far enough to deliver power into the hands of the local community and instead is stacked in favor of business groups that dominate the functional constituencies and instead want universal suffrage for Hong Kong in 2012.
A growing number of residents, 8% up from the last poll in May, see the unfair policies they are experiencing as a result of the business domination of functional constituencies. More and more grow frustrated at a political system where issues such as growing income inequality and air pollution are not adequately addressed.
The number of people living in poverty in Hong Kong rose 19% in the first nine months of 2009 and pollution levels hit record highs earlier this year.
Efforts to eliminate outdated busees could take up to a decade, according to Environment official Edward Yau.
“Our toxic air is the most damning symptom of our present political system,” said Joanne Ooi, chief executive officer of independent advocacy group Clean Air Network. “Although the public near unanimously supports the aggressive clean-up of our air, the government has consistently failed to act.”
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