on principle than on political convenience.
18
The result has been growing dissatisfaction on all sides
that potentially could
could de-rail the prospects for a smooth
transition of sovereignty in 1997 without that being intended by
any of the parties. Politics and the political system in Hong
Kong are developing at a rapid rate, but with very little
connection to the exercise of power and the corresponding
responsibilities of power. The Legislative Council as currently
constituted is still a colonial body whose role is to advise the
Governor rather than to limit his power and demand his
accountability. Although it has some powers, membership of that
body even through direct elections does not entail the kind of
responsibilities attendant upon other legislative assemblies that
determine what the executive can do let alone those that can
actually unseat governments. Additionally, since they are denied
participation in the negotiations over the future
future of their
constituents and of the political system in which they will seek
to continue to represent them, Hong Kong politicians are
understandably frustrated by seeing these negotiations being
carried out by one side which will withdraw altogether once the
new arrangements are due to come into effect and by another side
whose fear and contempt of representative democracy and the rule
of law was made all too painfully clear by the Tiananmen events
of June 4th 1989.
The difficulties can best be seen in considering the actions
of the leaders of the United Democrats of Hong Kong and the