PRESS RELEASE

11 March 1999

Democrats Fight for Democracy and Rule of Law in 24-hour Legco Session

The Democratic Party fought and lost two battles in defense of democracy and the rule of law during a 24-hour legislative Council session which ended today.  During the session, the Hong Kong government relied on the votes of undemocratically-selected Legco members to pass a bill which gives 20% of the seats in renamed District Councils to government-appointed members.

Democratic Party Chairman Martin Lee called the government's bill

"an insult to Hong Kong people.  The Hong Kong government's actions, leading us backwards when we should be going forward toward full democracy, are reprehensible.  The bill makes a travesty of the Hong Kong people's support for full democracy which they expressed in overwhelming numbers in the May 1998 Legislative Council elections.

The inclusion of appointed members in these bodies is something we have seen before.  In 1996, the provisional legislature, appointed by Beijing, included appointed eleven members who lost in democratic election in 1995.  The government's district councils bill will allow those who do not enjoy the trust of the people to get into government without being accountable, without submitting themselves to the will of the people.

It is abundantly clear that this government has no intention, let alone plan, to bring about democracy in Hong Kong."

Un-elected Legislative Councillor Choy So-yuk, who herself lost to Mr. Lee in the 1995 Legislative Council election and who holds a seat through the appointed Election Committee, objected to Mr. Lee’s remarks saying, "why are you labelling people?  Why are you saying that people who support the appointments system do not support democracy?"

Democratic Party Legislator Cheung Man-kwong told government officials present in the chamber to defend the bill.

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