HONG KONG, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- A commentary in the official China Daily Tuesday said it was illegal for democrats in Hong Kong to call for a timetable for the territory to achieve democracy.
The Hong Kong edition of the newspaper, seen as a mouthpiece for the Beijing government, said the democrats' demand was unlawful and impractical.
The article said that adjustments to the election law -- as proposed by the Hong Kong government but rejected by the democrats -- were the only option. It said that under an April decision by the National People's Congress in Beijing, changes to the election law could be made only in 2007 and 2008, and not beyond.
The Hong Kong government has proposed that the legislature be expanded from 60 to 70 seats, half elected and half appointed, and that the election committee that selects the chief executive be doubled from 800 to 1,600.
Pro-democracy lawmakers say the plan does not go far enough, and have vowed to block its approval by the legislature.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang returned Sunday from a trip to the United States, where he explained his reform plan to U.S. officials, lawmakers and think tank members. Tsang said most had been supportive of the plan.
