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32. Elections and the Second Stove Lights Up
- Hong Kong University Press, HKU
- Chapter
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32 Elections and the Second Stove Lights Up C k espite th e outrag e o f Chin a an d th e warnings fro m thos e i n 1 Hon g Kon g who kne w better, Legislative Counci l election s / wer e held in 1995 under the revised legislation of the Patten plan. This created new large constituencies and gave two votes to a large segment of the electorate, as well as creating an electoral college which wa s substantially differen t fro m th e on e described i n th e Qian-Hurd letters . The Democrat s walke d awa y with a majority o f th e seats and remained the largest single party in the legislature until the end of the century. They positioned themselve s as critics of the government , and where the purse of the man in the street was affected, too k a populist and some might say profligate line along with other councillors. Rents of public housing and fees and charges for government services were frozen , while constructiv e suggestion s t o hel p th e governmen t overcom e th e problems o f fallin g revenue s wer e lacking . Thes e policie s wer e partl y responsible for th e huge budget deficit Hong Kong was to experience i n later years. While sharin g th e sam e enthusias m a s Christophe r Patte n fo r accelerating the pace of democracy, the Democrats and their allies fell out with the Governor over the Court of Final Appeal. This, and not a court in Beijing, was to replace the British Privy Counci l as the final judge i n litigation in Hong Kong. It was another an d important pilla r o f the on e country, two systems formula, and was another earnest of China's intention to uphol d th e autonom y o f th e Specia l Administrative Regio n wit h it s 32 Elections and the Second Stove Lights Up espite the outrage of China and the warnings from those in Hong Kong who knew better, Legislative Council elections were held in 1995 under the revised legislation of the Patten plan. This created new large constituencies and gave two votes to a large segment of the electorate, as well as creating an electoral college which was substantially different from the one described in the Qian-Hurd letters. The Democrats walked away with a majority of the seats and remained the largest single party in the legislature until the end of the century. They positioned themselves as critics of the government, and where the purse of the man in the street was affected, took a populist and some might say profligate line along with other councillors. Rents of public housing and fees and charges for government services were frozen, while constructive suggestions to help the government overcome the problems of falling revenues were lacking. These policies were partly responsible for the huge budget deficit Hong Kong was to experience in later years. While sharing the same enthusiasm as Christopher Patten for accelerating the pace of democracy, the Democrats and their allies fell out with the Governor over the Court of Final Appeal. This, and not a court in Beijing, was to replace the British Privy Council as the final judge in litigation in Hong Kong. It was another and important pillar of the one country, two systems formula, and was another earnest ofChina's intention to uphold the autonomy of the Special Administrative Region with its Feeling the Stones legal system based upon the common law. But the agreement went further : not onl y would th e power o f final judgement b e vested in th e Cour t o f Final Appeal in Hong Kong, but the court could, as required, invite judges from othe r commo n la w jurisdictions t o sit o n th e court . An argumen t then took place in Hong Kong as to whether thi s meant that there coul d be more than one foreign judge at any one time, with the chairman of the Democratic Party , Marti n Lee , himsel f a barrister , playin g a lea d role . Representations wer e mad e throug h th e Join t Liaiso n Group , bu t eventually it was settled that there would be only one. It in any case could be see n a s...