NDI survey mission visits Hong Kong in March 1998 and Promise of Democratization Reports 3 (continued) and 4

The NDI sent a survey mission to Hong Kong from 15 – 18 March 1998. The mission comprised:

·         Dick Thornburgh, Former US Attorney General and Pennsylvania Governor;

·         Kamal Hossain, former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh;

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

·         Eric C. Bjornlund, NDI Senior Associate and Director of Asia Programs;

·         Sophie Richardson, NDI Program Officer;

·         Andrew Fuys, NDI Program Assistant.

The mission met with a broad range of political and governmental actors, including Chief Executive Tung Che-hwa, other senior government and election officials, former Legislative Council members, Provisional Legislative Council members, political party leaders, representatives of domestic and international NGOs, members of the domestic and international media, academics and representatives of the diplomatic, business and legal communities.

The aim of the mission was to allow the NDI to continue to monitor the status of autonomy and the prospects for democratization in the new Special Administrative Region in light of international standards and benchmarks outlined in the Basic Law. The Institute hopes that this and its other reports will contribute to better understanding of the ongoing transition process and assist those interested in promoting democratization in Hong Kong.

Promise of Democratization in Hong Kong Reports 3# and 4#

The results of this and the 3^rd survey mission in December 1997 and were documented in the following reports:

·         The Promise of Democratization in Hong Kong: Autonomy and the Rule of Law: NDI Pre-election Report. NDI Hong Kong Report #3. 1 May 1998¹.

·         The Promise of Democratization in Hong Kong: Hong Kong: NDI Pre-election Report. NDI Hong Kong Report #4. 15 May 1998².

The reports were prepared by:

·         Eric C. Bjornlund, NDI Senior Associate and Director of Asia Programs;

·         Sophie Richardson, NDI Program Officer; 

·         Andrew Fuys, NDI Program Assistant.

Promise of Democratization Report 3 cover

Promise of Democratization Report 4 cover

Controversy sparked by the 15 - 18 March 1998 survey mission

                

The 15 - 18 March 1998 survey mission was controversial, because when the delegation met the highly respected Mr Justice Woo of the Electoral Affairs Commission he told them in no uncertain terms that they were tampering with the principle of Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong by demanding access to polling stations and he is on record as telling the NDI delegation, led by former US Attorney-General Dick Thornburgh:

“You are also usurping my function and that’s going against the law”³

According to the NED’s own grantees report on the 1998 Legislative Council Elections, Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor noted:

… on 19 March when meeting a delegation from the United States National Endowment for Democracy, Mr Justice Woo said that overseas election observers were tampering with the principle of Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong by demanding access to polling stations. He told the NDI delegation, which consisted of the former US Attorney-General Dick Thornburgh, the former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr Kamal Hussein, and Chomlai Somlaor of Thailand

“You are also usurping my function and that’s going against the law”⁴ 

(See Paragraph 7-07).

References

¹The Promise of Democratization in Hong Kong: Autonomy and the Rule of Law: NDI Pre-election Report. NDI Hong Kong Report #3. 1 May 1998 Link to all Promise of Democratization Reports

²The Promise of Democratization in Hong Kong: Hong Kong: NDI Pre-election Report. NDI Hong Kong Report #4. 15 May 1998 Link to all Promise of Democratization Reports

³SCMP. Watchdog 'would increase faith in poll's integrity'. Published : 18 March 1998 SCMP Article 

⁴Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor. Report on 1998 Legislative Council Elections.

December 1998. Retrievable from: HKHRM Report