Senator Byron Dorgan, Chairman and Representative Sander Levin,Cochairman
of the
Congressional-Executive Commission on China
invite you to a roundtable discussion on
“Prospects for Democracy in Hong Kong: Assessing China's International Commitments”
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Congressional Meeting Room—South
This roundtable will examine Hong Kong's political system, including international commitments China made regarding Hong Kong, recent changes to its electoral institutions, and its citizens' views of past and current electoral issues. On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong became a Chinese Special Administrative Region (SAR), following the British handover of the island to China. Hong Kong's Basic Law, which some describe as its mini-constitution, states that the right to vote for the selection of the chief executive and the Legislative Council is the "ultimate aim." What do the Hong Kong people, the SAR Government, and the Chinese Government think of the current timeframe for electoral reform and prospects for greater democracy in Hong Kong? And, more broadly, to what extent will Hong Kong contribute to the development of democracy and civil society on mainland China?
Panelists:
Robert Keatley, Founder and Editor of Hong Kong Journal; former Editor of the Wall Street Journal Asia, the Wall Street Journal Europe, and the South China Morning Post
Michael DeGolyer, Hong Kong Baptist University Associate Professor of Government and International Studies, Director of the Hong Kong Transition Project
Michael F. Martin, Specialist in Asian Affairs, Congressional Research Service
CECC Roundtables are open to the public. No RSVP is necessary.
Click here to download a copy of the Commission's full 2009 Annual Report.
Visit the Commission's Web site at www.cecc.gov for analysis of recent developments and other resources related to the development of the rule of law and human rights in China.