Taipei, Aug. 16 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian urged the mainland Chinese leadership Saturday to accept the universal values of freedom, democracy, peace and human rights.
Chen made the appeal in his speech delivered at the opening session of an international seminar on Hong Kong's development under the Beijing-initiated "one country, two systems" formula.
Since Hong Kong's reversion to mainland Chinese rule in July 1997, Chen said, the former British colony has not seen an economic boom as many had expected through its integration with the mainland. On the contrary, he went on, Hong Kong has witnessed an accelerated industrial "hollowing out" and a significantly higher unemployment rate over the past six years.
On the political front, Chen said, Hong Kong is facing a regression in democracy. Chen said the Hong Kong people's civil liberties have been restricted to some extent due to Beijing's concerns. For instance, the Hong Kong people face various kinds of restrictions in commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre and practicing Falun Gong spiritual cultivation due to pressure from Beijing.
More than 500,000 Hong Kong citizens took to the streets July 1 to protest the Hong Kong government's plan to enact an anti-subversion bill which, if passed, would further restrict the Hong Kong people's civil liberties and rights, Chen said. The massive protest forced the Hong Kong government to delay the legislation. A week later, more than 30,000 Hong Kong people staged a sit-in in front of the territory's Legislative Council calling for political reform and direct election of its chief executive.
All these developments caused international concern about the level of Beijing's sincerity in honoring its "one country, two systems" promise to maintain Hong Kong's current lifestyle and system for 50 years, Chen said.
Noting that the Hong Kong people's protest against the anti-subversion bill indicated their desire for freedom and full democracy, Chen said Beijing should respect and protect the Hong Kong people's right to make choices based on free will.
Chen said democracy has been the cornerstone of Taiwan's political and social stability and the island's most precious asset to ensure its role in the international community. "We ought to treasure our hard-won democratic achievements and throw our full support behind the Hong Kong people's efforts to safeguard their basic human rights and freedom, " Chen said, adding that Taiwan must serve as a beacon of hope for Hong Kong's and mainland China's democratic development.