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Opinion | Beijing won’t grant Hong Kong real democracy, but it must at least hold Carrie Lam accountable for the political chaos
- It is hard for the authorities to meet anti-extradition protesters’ demand for democracy, but there must be a public accounting of the saga. Hong Kong faces its biggest crisis in 22 years, but no official has assumed responsibility
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Why you can trust SCMP
With summer coming to a close, the protest movement of nine weeks is nearing an inflection point. Incidents of violence against protesters and the unprecedented participation of civil servants in protests that have paralysed the city present a challenge to Beijing.
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Armed suppression risks destroying the appeal of a global business centre, but failure to resolve the crisis could encourage protesters in Hong Kong and elsewhere in China.
The mass protests have brought into sharp focus the fundamental flaw in Hong Kong’s relationship with China. Beijing exercises sovereignty, but the people of Hong Kong expect to choose their government.
The huge anti-government protests began with a single demand: withdraw the extradition bill, which if passed would have made it legal for Hong Kong people to be sent to the mainland for trial. The government suspended the bill, but refuses to withdraw it despite widespread demands.
As a result, other demands have emerged, including one not within the power of the Hong Kong administration to grant – for democracy. This was so five years ago during the Occupy movement, and it remains the case today.
On July 29, when the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, a cabinet-level agency under China’s State Council, held a press conference, a reporter asked if there would be electoral changes to alleviate the current pressure.
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