Anson Bows Out
Hong Kong's "democracy" took another blow this weekend when Anson Chan, one of the territory's most popular politicians, bowed out of the race for chief executive. Mrs. Chan, it seems, knows a stacked deck when she sees it.
Ever since the British handover, China has thought it too dangerous to let Hong Kong people choose their leader. Instead, a committee of 800, dominated by local acolytes, anoints Beijing's preferred candidate. No one is allowed to stand without nominations from 100 of them. "Whoever stands is making a huge sacrifice," Mrs. Chan told us. "A contested election should be on the basis of a level playing field."
In a truly democratic race, Mrs. Chan -- dubbed "Hong Kong's conscience" for her resolute defense of the territory's separate system during her eight years as the Hong Kong government's number two -- would have won long ago. She trounced the territory's first chief executive, the hapless Tung Chee Hwa, in virtually every opinion poll. Five years after her retirement, she remains popular enough to give incumbent Donald Tsang a run for his money.
Even if she had lost, Mrs. Chan's participation would have highlighted the unfairness of the present system, and reignited debate about the snail-like progress toward universal suffrage. Now, Mr. Tsang is likely to be anointed -- unopposed -- for another five-year term. The other contenders from Hong Kong's pro-democracy camp lack Mrs. Chan's star power and stand little chance of gathering the 100 nominations needed to run.
Mr. Tsang may be the winner, getting his reward for so enthusiastically doing Beijing's bidding. But everyone who cares about democracy in Hong Kong will be the loser.