Are pro-democracy marches in Hong Kong a waste of time?
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp is unhappy with the timetable provided by Beijing for full democracy in the territory, and is planning a protest march on Sunday. The protest may attract tens of thousands of marchers — for local opinion polls show huge support among Hong Kong citizens for democracy — but it will not be enough to squeeze further concessions out of the Chinese government. For progress towards democracy occurs at Beijing’s pleasure. China’s highest legal body, the 150-strong Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), made a key decision on Hong Kong’s constitutional future last month, ruling out full democracy there in 2012, but indicated that the city’s chief executive could be selected by universal suffrage in 2017. The provisions are broadly in line with recommendations submitted to Beijing by Chief Executive Donald Tsang. While encouraging a degree of reform in the next five years, Tsang’s petition offered no firm timetable or proposals. He prudently
