THE governor of Hong Kong, Mr Chris Patten, condemned a Chinese move to dissolve the colony's elected legislature yesterday as a "black day for democracy", boding ill for the return to China due to take place next year.
In moving to disband the Legislative Council, or Legco, the Beijing controlled Hong Kong Preparatory Committee, signalled that democracy under the Chinese leader, Mr Deng Xiaoping's "one country, two systems" model would have little room for western style direct elections or dissent.
"To mechanically ape the western democratic model does not accord with Hong Kong's actual conditions or accommodate the interests of all social strata," the Chinese Foreign Minister and committee chairman, Mr Qian Qichen, said.
Mr Qian chided as "laughable" a Legco motion that condemned his committee and he shot down a scheme to elect Hong Kong's first post transition leader through general elections.
"This is a brazen challenge to relevant resolutions of the National People's Congress and an irresponsible act toward Hong Kong's people," Mr Qian said.
The National People's Congress, or parliament, set up the committee in January to form new Hong Kong political institutions. The panel adopted a resolution to replace the elected Legco with a provisional legislature, ignoring objections from Mr Patten, local democrats and the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major.
This is a black day for democracy in Hong Kong," Mr Patten said, noting that China's action came at a time when "democracy is moving forward all over the Asian region".
The Preparatory Committee, a mixed body of 150 Chinese and pro Beijing Hong Kong personalities decreed that July 1st and 2nd of next year, the first days of Chinese sovereignty, would be official holidays. "Christmas and Easter will also be marked by holidays, along with other public holidays such as one in August to mark victory in the Anti Japanese War the Xinhua news agency said.