The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated today that 400,000 people in Hong Kong joined a demonstration on July 1, which demanded for direct elections in 2007 and 2008 and aimed to protect democracy and freedom. This highlighted not only the fact that following their demonstration “in opposition against Article 23 of the Basic Law and to demand a government by the people” on July 1 last year, the Hong Kong people’s resolve to pursue democracy has not diminished, but also manifested their dissatisfaction with the Chinese authorities’ interference with Hong Kong’s autonomy and their disappointment at the “One Country, Two Systems.” The Mainland Affairs Council affirms and supports the Hong Kong people’s aspiration to pursue democracy and basic human rights, and is also concerned over whether the Chinese government could keep its promise to allow “Hong Kong people to rule Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy.”
Democracy and human rights are the most precious universal values. The July 1 demonstration attended by 500,000 people last year, which demanded for the abolition of the draft of the National Security Bill; the support for the win of the democratic faction in the District Council; the New Year’s Day demonstration this year attended by 100,000 people; the July 1 demonstration this year attended by 400,000 people, which demanded for the implementation of direct elections; all these show the Hong Kong people’s firm determination in pursuit of democracy. However, the Mainland side has conducted the political investigation of political oppositionists through a so-called “Love Our Country and Contribute to Hong Kong” propaganda, and has used the “legal interpretation of the National People’s Congress” to obstruct the progress of the direct elections. The Mainland side has excessively interfered with the internal affairs and the autonomy of Hong Kong, and suppressed the development of democracy. Not only has the Mainland damaged the functions of Hong Kong as an international city, but has also destroyed its own promise of “One Country, Two Systems” to the Hong Kong people. The Mainland Affairs Council emphasizes that democracy is the foundation of social stability. Only the people themselves have the right to decide on their own political development. We hope that the Mainland side would really understand the trend of the popular will in Hong Kong, and seriously attend to the Hong Kong people’s appeals for democracy.