Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – The 2004 policy address read yesterday by governor Tung Chee-hwa to members of Hong Kong's Parliament was criticised today by most organizations and media.

The policy address is a speech inherited from the British government, in which every year the guidelines are given for officials to follow in economics, politics and welfare. With respect to British colonial style, Tung Chee-hwa changed only the date in which the speech is delivered (before the Chinese New Year instead of October), while reducing its length and content ever more. 

Yesterday's address, lasting nearly an hour, gave indications for how to improve Hong Kong's economy and, above all, removed every desire for full democracy in the territory. Though Hong Kong's citizens marched last Jan. 1 and July 1 in favor of full democracy by 2007 and against China's meddling in Hong Kong's internal affairs, Tung Chee-hwa decreed that issues of democracy will be studied by a commission and  submitted to Beijing's approval.   

The press in the territory together condemned his weak economic proposals, but particularly the chief executive's total submission to the will of Beijing. According to all the editorials published, from the Ming Pao to the South China Morning Post, making Hong Kong's every step depend on Beijing undermines the structure of "one country – two systems"  policy that served as the basis for the treaty establishing Hong Kong's reversion to its motherland in July 1997. 

Pro-democracy groups accused Tung Chee-hwa of being out of touch with the people's needs and expectations and promised to conduct a sit-in and candle-light vigil this evening in front of the Legislative Council, home to the Parliament in Hong Kong's Central district.

Even Allen Peng-fei, a pro-Beijing member of Parliament, stated that China  "is quite aware that Mr. Tung is not capable of leading things appropriately." 

The only newspaper that came to save the governor was that of the Chinese Communist Party, the China Daily, defending Tung Chee-hwa and his caution. 

Many analysts point out that the Beijing government is "nervous" about the topic of democracy which could spread also to China from Hong Kong. Yet submitting to China means not "listening to the voice of the people". Currently, Tung Chee-hwa has a 40% popularity rating among the people of Hong Kong.

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