Taipei, April 28 (CNA) Beijing's "one country, two systems" unification formula has been proven pointless since Hong Kong and Macau returned to Beijing's rule in 1997 and 1999, respectively, President Chen Shui-bian said Thursday.
Chen made the remarks during a meeting with a group of more than 30 Taiwan expatriates from Hong Kong and Macau at the Presidential Office. Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman You Ying-lung and Presidential Vice Secretary-General James Hung were also present at the meeting.
Describing it as "impossible" for Taiwan and China to undergo political consolidation before China implements democracy and allows direct elections, as well as freedom of religion and speech for its people, Chen said that the experience gained by Hong Kong and Macau during the past several years of being ruled by China is clear proof that the "one country, two systems" scheme is a lie.
The president said that the situation facing Hong Kong and Macau at present is not how many promises Beijing makes to them but is rather the problem of whether Beijing can brace for democracy and implement rule of law, he noted.
He called on the Beijing leadership to be wise and catch up with world trends and the globally recognized values of freedom and democracy, and to step up political reform and make China a democracy in order to write a new page of progress and prosperity in history for the Chinese people in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.