NY Times: Beijing Derails Hong Kong Plans for Democratic Reforms

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Beijing Derails Hong Kong Plans for Democratic Reforms

HONG KONG, Jan. 7 — Objections from Beijing have derailed plans to set a timetable for democratic reforms here, senior Hong Kong officials said today, as they announced that a task force would begin meeting immediately with various mainland Chinese government departments.

Residents of this autonomous Chinese territory have held many rallies in the past six months to demand greater voting rights, with as many as 100,000 taking to the streets on New Year's Day and 500,000 on July 1. But after promising in September to set a timetable by the end of December for pursuing constitutional changes, senior officials said here today that they were unable to set any schedule because of Beijing's concerns.

Donald Tsang, the chief secretary and second-ranking government official in Hong Kong, said that President Hu Jintao of China had expressed concerns to Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong's chief executive, on Dec. 3, and that Beijing officials had subsequently asked for consultations on "matters of principle and legislative procedure."

"There was a clear indication at the end of December it would be better for Hong Kong to hold discussions with the various departments of the central government," Mr. Tsang said.

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Beijing Derails Hong Kong Plans for Democratic Reforms

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