2014年6月26日 星期四

紐約時報社論 力挺香港民主 Beijing Growls at Hong Kong


紐約時報社論 力挺香港民主

編譯中心 2014年06月26日 18:1194 點擊數
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紐約時報社論 力挺香港民主
《紐約時報》發表社論,聲援香港保衛公民自由權的運動(美聯社)
《紐約時報》(New York Times)25日發表社論,簡述香港近日高漲的政治情緒,與中國政府發表的「一國兩制白皮書」,是對香港既有公民權利的壓制。文末主張中國應給予香港應有的尊重,西方民主國家也應聲援香港、反對任何剝奪其自由的意圖。

報導指出,北京於6月公布的「一國兩制白皮書」,是香港自1997年脫離英國殖民統治,成為中國的一部分以來,北京首度對香港宣示完整管轄權的聲明。內容重申,香港的自治權來自中央賦予;「一國兩制」的系統關鍵在於讓香港保留資本主義的機制,而不保證政治的獨立。

這份文件公布的時機,正在香港舉行非官方的全民投票活動之前不久。20至29日間,香港透過「佔領中環」公投表決3種政改方案,每一種都能賦予人民更大的權利。要求民主的「佔中」運動,主要訴求包括自由選舉與平等投票權等公民權利,並反對北京篩選2017年行政特首候選人。同時,香港居民首度大多數地(52%)不滿於北京處理香港事務的方式。20幾歲的世代中,不滿比例更高達82%。

報導指出,中國中央必須了解,雖然在1997年移交香港的《基本法》中寫明,香港與中國是一個國家,但兩者文化的差異依然非常大。香港享有自由,這包括言論自由、集會及宗教自由、媒體自由與司法獨立權等中國沒有賦予人民的權利。無論這樣的差異有多麼不容於中國體制,北京都必須尊重它們。而西方國家也應該聲援香港,反對任何限制其自由的意圖。

Beijing Growls at Hong Kong


For the first time since the British handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, Beijing has unambiguously asserted its complete jurisdiction over Hong Kong.
A recent government paper reminded Hong Kong that whatever autonomy it has flows from the Chinese government and that the doctrine of “one country, two systems” implied in the original agreement allows Hong Kong to retain its capitalist system but does not confer political independence.
Beijing’s purpose is to put its foot on what it deems an undesirable political movement. It also invites a backlash.
The document’s release comes at a time of heightened political debate in Hong Kong. The increasingly active pro-democracy Occupy Central movement, for instance, calls for free elections and universal suffrage, and it wants Beijing to stop selecting Hong Kong’s chief executive in what are essentially closed proceedings. The group is now conducting an informal, nonbinding referendum offering voters three different ways to choose their chief executive; all would confer more power on ordinary voters. As it is, Beijing pretty much controls the process and outcome.
Meanwhile, for the first time in a decade, a majority of Hong Kong residents (52 percent) say they are dissatisfied with the way Beijing manages Hong Kong’s affairs. The level of dissatisfaction for those in their 20s is an astonishing 82 percent. Here is what Beijing must understand. While the 1997 Basic Law negotiated at the time of the handover says essentially that China and Hong Kong are one country, the cultural differences are vast. Hong Kong enjoys liberties — freedom of speech, assembly and religion; a free press; and an independent judiciary — that are not available in China. However discomfiting these differences may be, Beijing must respect them. And Western nations should speak out against any effort to restrict them.

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