NYTimes.com Article: Hong Kong Protest Movement Pauses to Weigh Its Next

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Hong Kong unrest or restive China?  The text of politics in the post-Tiannamen 
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Hong Kong Protest Movement Pauses to Weigh Its Next Steps

July 19, 2003
 By KEITH BRADSHER 




 

HONG KONG, July 18 - The protest movement here is divided
over what goals to pursue next and how, and is leaning
toward not holding any more large rallies until near the
end of the year unless the government takes strong actions
to limit civil liberties before then, protest leaders said
today. 

The lull in street demonstrations could provide Tung
Chee-hwa, Hong Kong's chief executive, with the time to
assemble a new cabinet and start trying to rebuild his
popularity. The pause is also likely to reduce the pressure
on Beijing to make quick concessions to demonstrators here
or to pursue a crackdown. 

The rallies, beginning with a march on July 1 that drew a
half-million people, have already affected the political
system. On Thursday, Mr. Tung announced a lengthy delay of
his plan for stringent internal-security legislation. A day
earlier, two of his top ministers resigned. 

From noodle shops to radio talk programs, the talk here is
of politics, a big change for a city long famous for its
preoccupation with material wealth. Even without street
protests, public sentiment may yet prove strong enough to
force Mr. Tung himself to step down. 

The Civil Human Rights Front, which organized the
demonstrations on July 1 and July 9, is a loose coalition
of 45 nonprofit groups with different agendas, but united
in their objections to the government security bill. 

But with Mr. Tung now calling for lengthy public
consultations before resubmitting the bill to the
Legislative Council, the front is struggling with how much
to emphasize universal suffrage or human rights next, said
Richard Tsoi and Roddy Shaw, the front's main leaders. A
meeting last Wednesday did not produce an agreement;
another meeting is scheduled for Aug. 1. 

The New China News Agency announced tonight that the senior
Chinese diplomat here, Ji Peiding, had been replaced by
another official, Yang Wenchang. But the more important
director of the Chinese liaison office here, Gao Siren,
remains in his job. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/19/international/asia/19HONG.html?ex=1059666539&ei=1&en=96aae8edf8cb9d24


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