THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH HONG KONG

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HONG KONG 001729 SIPDIS STATE FOR D, AND EAP/CM E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2033 TAGS: PGOV PREL OVIP HK CH SUBJECT: THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH HONG KONG LEGISLATORS Classified By: CONSUL GENERAL JOSEPH DONOVAN, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B),(D). ¶1. (C) Summary: The Deputy Secretary and Hong Kong legislators from the pan-democratic and pro-Beijing camps discussed the future of universal suffrage in Hong Kong, priority legislative agenda items, and Hong Kong-China relations. Pan-democratic legislators stressed constitutional reform as the most controversial issue the Legislative Council will tackle in its new four-year term. The pan-democrats also believe it will be difficult, if not impossible, to negotiate interim reforms for 2012 when no one knows what the end result for 2017 will look like. On economic issues, the legislators agreed alleviating Hong Kong people's current economic hardships was their top legislative priority. The legislators hope to pass a minimum wage law and competition law in the next two years. Democratic Party Chairman Albert Ho hoped the relationship between Hong Kong legislators and Mainland authorities would improve. End Summary. -------------- Universal Suffrage -------------- ¶2. (C) Pan-democrats Albert Ho of the Democratic Party and Audrey Eu of the Civic Party cited constitutional reform as the most controversial issue for the next four years. Namely, how does Hong Kong define universal suffrage? What reform will need to be implemented before the 2012 elections? What will happen to Hong Kong's unique functional constituency representatives, who currently hold 30 of the 60 Legislative Council (LegCo) seats but are not directly elected? Ho predicted that many people will try to persuade the pan-democrats to accept a transitional reform package for the 2012 elections, but he and Eu claimed it was illogical to discuss a transitional model when it was unclear how Beijing will ultimately define universal suffrage. That is, it is difficult to agree on the intermittent steps without knowing the desired end result. Ho pointed out the December 2007 decision by the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) already limited reform of the functional constituencies by stipulating the ratio of functional to geographic constituencies had to remain 50/50. This may leave as the only option increasing the number of functional seats (along with the geographic),instead of reducing or removing them. ¶3. (C) Although the pan-democrats barely managed to hold on to their blocking minority by winning 23 seats in the Legco elections held September 7, Ho emphasized the pan-democrats would not want to veto an electoral reform package if it was "acceptable" to the Hong Kong people. He did not elaborate on what constitutes "acceptable." Chairman of the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) and vice-chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions, Tam Yiu-chung, remained silent during most of the universal suffrage discussion, but later interjected that he hoped 2012 would see democratic progress and that the pan-democrats should seriously consider supporting constitutional reform proposals. ¶4. (C) When the Deputy Secretary inquired what would happen if Legco failed to pass a constitutional reform bill by 2012, the pan-democratic legislators agreed, with varying degrees of confidence, that the NPCSC could choose to unilaterally impose a framework on Hong Kong. Ho felt this was unlikely but the outspoken Leung Kwok-hung of the League of Social Democrats stated if the central authorities wanted some type of change, they could "get it done before lunch." Ho and Eu recalled the previous three occasions when the NPCSC handed down rulings that the pan-democrats viewed as inconsistent with the rights guaranteed by the constitution-like Basic Law. Tam again remained silent as Ho and Eu spoke at length about the three cases, but at last interjected to read directly from a text of Article 158 of the Basic Law, which he interpreted as clearly limiting Hong Kong courts' authority over certain issues. Ho retorted that after the NPCSC overturned the 1998 Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal decision on rights of abode, the Hong Kong court was ridiculed by the international community as the Court of "Semi-final" Appeal. ( Note: The controversial cases were: 1) the right to abode in Hong Kong of Mainland children with one HK parent, 2) term of office for the Chief Executive, and 3) universal suffrage for 2007 CE and 2008 Legco elections. End note.) ¶5. (C) Going further, Leung addressed the issue of Beijing's opposition to more democracy in Hong Kong. He stated that the many PRC businesses in Hong Kong are concerned that a more democratic Hong Kong would be detrimental to business HONG KONG 00001729 002 OF 002 interests. Higher minimum wages and expanded social services might cut into the profits these PRC businesses enjoy. As a result, Leung thought democratic reform would continue to be slow, and resisted by Beijing. -------------- Economic and Social Challenges -------------- ¶6. (C) Responding to the Deputy Secretary's query, all the legislators agreed alleviating the average Hong Kong person's current economic plight caused by inflation and rising unemployment was a top legislative agenda item. Current measures to stabilize prices include monitoring supermarkets for price-gouging but Ho expressed hope that a competition law can be passed in the next two years. The working poor and a widening wealth gap are major concerns. Political parties agree Hong Kong needs a minimum wage, but they continue to disagree on whether the law should be a "catch-all" or only apply to certain sectors. Tam said his party strongly disagreed with the Hong Kong government's position that labor costs should be determined by the market. Workers need to be protected, and DAB hopes to see a minimum wage law passed in the next year. Leung said it was a shame the government was trying to convince the Hong Kong people having a minimum wage would harm the Hong Kong economy. -------------- Relations with Beijing -------------- ¶7. (C) Ho hopes the relationship between Hong Kong legislators and China's central and provincial authorities can improve. Mainland officials have rebuffed numerous invitations from legislators to meet, he said, even when they promise to meet as individuals, and not to represent any political party. Additionally, some pan-democratic leglislators, including Ho and Leung, are not allowed to travel to Mainland China. Ho stressed there should be no preconditions to dialogue between Legco and Mainland authorities. -------------- New Legco Make-Up -------------- ¶8. (C) Commenting on the 17 Legco newcomers elected September 7, the four veteran legislators noted the newcomers' impact will depend on their individual abilities and personalities. Ho stated matter-of-factly he expected his fellow DP members to follow the party line but he was not so sure about some of the new independent faces in the FCs. Leung warned, and Eu echoed, the CE's office will likely try to lobby votes away from the pan-democratic camp as they tried in 2005 (losing three votes will deprive the pan-democrats of their veto power). Responding to Consul General Donovan's query about candidates for Legco's next President, Tam jokingly pointed to Ho, who modestly claimed the pan-democratic camp had not yet selected a candidate. Ho confirmed the DAB's Jasper Tsang most likely will represent the pro-Beijing camp. ¶9. (U) The travelling party cleared this cable. ¶10. (U) September 18, 2008; 10:00, Legislative Council Building, Hong Kong. Meeting Participants: U.S. Deputy Secretary Negroponte Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary John Norris Consul General Joseph Donovan Kaye Lee, Special Assistant Tedd Wittenstein, Special Assistant Benjamin Weber, Political Unit Chief Lisa Tam, Political Officer, notetaker Hong Kong Albert HO, Chairman of the Democratic Party TAM Yiu-chung, Chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong; Vice-Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions Audrey EU Yuet-mee, Civic Party LEUNG Kwok-hung, League of Social Democrats Miranda HON, Chief Council Secretary DONOVAN