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Comments on the about face of President Bill Clinton in granting Most Favored Nation status to China and says that the belief that the Tiananmen Square massacre `worked' may not bode well for Hong Kong, which will become part of China in less than 1000 days. The basic freedoms that are currently enjoyed by people in Hong Kong; The 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.

Discusses politics and governments in Hong Kong, China. When Hong Kong voters went to the polls to elect their first Legislative Council under Chinese rule; When the Republic of China regained sovereignty over Hong Kong; Why the 1998 Hong Kong election is considered the most significant political development in communist China's history; Obstacles by which democrats in Hong Kong are confronted with; Further discussion of politics and government in Hong Kong.

Focuses on the rule of law in Hong Kong in relation to the plans of the Chinese government to abolish the legislature upon assumption of sovereignty in 1997. Election of the legislature in 1995; Rule of law versus rule by law; Court of Final Appeal; End of the Bill of Rights; Basic rights protection; Hong Kong's most valuable legacy.

The article focuses on the Joint Declaration between Great Britain and People's Republic of China (PRC) that would acknowledge the sovereignty of Hong Kong. According to the author, both British and Chinese government seems to ignore of what they had promised democracy among the people of Hong Kong. One of the provisions in the agreement is the Election of Legislature, however, only a third of the legislators have been elected while the rest appointed. Thus, the Basic Law is undemocratic. unacceptable to the people of Hong Kong and has to be amended.

Until recently, the only human right recognized in China was the right to live. That is, a right not much different than for an animal. Now, Beijing has already signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, although it is yet to be ratified. In the meantime, it has, as you mentioned, written protection of human rights into the constitution. The prospect of real democracy in Hong Kong in a few years' time is extremely worrisome to Beijing-although the new premier Wen Jiabao, and the new president Hu Jintao, have touted the development of democracy in China on their trips abroad. Of course, they talk about "democracy in a socialist context," but nonetheless focus on "the will of the people." This, too, is a step in the right direction. But there is no timetable for when democracy might come to mainland China.