Hong Kong Dumps China's 'Fake Democracy'

It's a result 'we are unwilling to see,' Beijing warns
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 18, 2015 12:03 AM CDT
Hong Kong Dumps 'Bogus' Voting Plan
Pro-democracy protesters celebrate outside the Legislative Council in Hong Kong today.   (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

"Democracy" where you choose from a list of government-approved candidates isn't worthy of the name, 28 out of 70 legislative council members in Hong Kong have decided—enough to shoot down the controversial voting plan from Beijing that sparked massive protests last year. The rejection means that the current system, where the territory's chief executive is chosen by a 1,200-person committee, will stay in place until at least 2022, the Guardian reports, but pro-democracy lawmakers say the "fake democracy" on offer for an election in 2017 was completely unacceptable and rejecting it will put the pressure back on Beijing.

"Let us show the world that we are not fools," lawmaker Claudia Ho said during the debate, per the New York Times. "If you want to be true to the words democracy and universal suffrage, ladies and gentlemen, all Hong Kongers, we have no option but to vote against it." The proposal needed 47 out of 70 votes to pass and just before the vote, dozens of pro-establishment lawmakers walked out in an effort to halt proceedings, the Guardian reports. It is not clear how Beijing will deal with the rejection, though a Foreign Ministry spokesman told reporters today that the result of today's vote is something "we are unwilling to see," the AP reports. (More Hong Kong stories.)

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