China Assails Hong Kong Governor Over Reform

A top Chinese official Wednesday blasted Hong Kong Gov. Chris Patten as someone history will remember as “a guilty man” for his attempt to promote democratic reforms in the British colony.

Despite the harsh rhetoric, Lu Ping, China’s top official in charge of Hong Kong affairs, made no fresh threats against Hong Kong at a high-profile Wednesday afternoon news conference in Beijing.

In an angry statement broadcast live on Hong Kong television, Lu declared that Beijing will speed up its work on preparing for China’s 1997 resumption of sovereignty over the colony.

But Patten, far from taking offense, said Lu’s comments might mark a “breakthrough” in attempts to launch negotiations over the proposed reforms.

“If by this afternoon’s statement is meant that we’re going to hear Chinese proposals on the electoral arrangements for district boards and for the Legislative Council, then that would be a very welcome breakthrough, because one of the things that I’ve been saying for the last three months is instead of adjectives, it would be quite helpful if we had positive proposals, which the community could then look at and which we could then discuss,” Patten said. “So if we’re going to hear about that now, then I think it’s very welcome.”

China is furious over proposals by Patten to broaden voter participation in legislative elections scheduled for 1995. Beijing fears that more democracy might make Hong Kong harder to govern after 1997, and stoke demands for more freedom within China.

Lu on Wednesday renewed a threat that if the 1995 Legislative Council is chosen according to the procedures proposed by Patten, it will be swept from office immediately upon China’s resumption of sovereignty on July 1, 1997.

Times staff writer Holley reported from Beijing and special correspondent Courtney from Hong Kong.