NDI Delegation visits Hong Kong in May 1998 and Promise of Democratization Report 5

On May 24, 1998, residents of Hong Kong went to the polls for the first time since reversion to Chinese sovereignty, so the NDI sent a delegation to Hong Kong from 20 to 26 May 1998, to observe the May 24 elections. The delegation comprised:

·         Eugene Eidenberg, a member of NDI's Board of Directors and a former senior White House official during the Carter administration, led the mission;

·         Kamal Hossain, former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh;

·         Somchai Homlaor, Secretary General of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development;

·         Eric Bjornlund, NDI Senior Associate Regional Director for Asia;

·         Maryam Montague, NDI Senior Program Officer;

·         Sophie Richardson, NDI Program Officer;

·         Andrew Fuys, NDI Program Assistant.

The delegation met with a broad range of political and governmental actors, including Chief Secretary for Administration Anson Chan, Electoral Affairs Commission Chairman Justice Woo Kwok-hing, other senior government and election officials, political party leaders, representatives of domestic and international nongovernmental organizations, members of the domestic and international media, academics and representatives of the diplomatic, business and legal communities.

Participants on the mission also traveled to polling sites on election day to observe the election process.

The promise of democratization in Hong Kong. NDI Post-election report # 5.

The results of this delegation’s visit were reported in:

·         The promise of democratization in Hong Kong. NDI Post-election report. NDI Hong Kong Report # 5. 30 July 1998¹.

This report was written by:

·         Eric Bjornlund;

·         Andrew Fuys.

Promise of Democratization Report 5 cover

Key findings of the delegation

Implementation of Article 23

·         The legislature, along with the administration, will need at some point to address the implementation of constitutionally required laws that could affect the status of civil liberties. Article 23 of the Basic Law requires the SAR to enact laws governing such concerns as sedition and subversion and the relationship between political bodies in Hong Kong and overseas political groups (Page 5, repeated at Page 16).

·         Implementation of Article 23 of the Basic Law represents one important issue that could face the SAR's first elected LegCo. Article 23 requires the SAR to enact laws "to prohibit treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People's Government, or theft of state secrets." The article also requires laws "to prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities" in the SAR and "to prohibit political organizations or bodies" from Hong Kong from "establishing ties" with foreign political groups (Page 18).

Election Monitoring

·         for a number of reasons, NDI did not organize a full-scale, traditional observer effort for the Hong Kong elections;

·         the EAC and the SAR government repeatedly stressed that they would not allow observers inside polling stations on the day of the polls. Government and election officials argued adamantly that doing so would be tantamount to inviting outside supervision of the polls;

·         they expressed their strongest objections to the prospect of international observers at the polling stations;

·         nonetheless, NDI organized a study mission to Hong Kong at the time of the elections (Page 8).

Note

National Democratic Institute is listed as an Official Delegation to Hong Kong in 1999

In a report by the Hong Kong and Macau US Consulate General - United States Hong Kong Policy Act Report, as of April 1, 1999, under APPENDIX: Official Visitors to Hong Kong: April 1, 1998 -- March 31, 1999, this delegation was listed under - Official Delegations to Hong Kong, implying it had official status².

References

¹The promise of democratization in Hong Kong. NDI Post-election report. NDI Hong Kong Report # 5. 30 July 1998 Link to all Promise of Democratization Reports

²Hong Kong and Macau US Consulate General. United States Hong Kong Policy Act Report, as of April 1, 1999, under APPENDIX: Official Visitors to Hong Kong: April 1, 1998 -- March 31, 1999. Official Delegations to Hong Kong. The National Democratic Institute See Report