Pro-China politicians in Hong Kong pointed gleefully at post-election turmoil in Taiwan on Monday as an example of democracy gone wrong and warned residents that speedy moves to universal suffrage may only lead to chaos.
Taiwan's incumbent President Chen Shui-bian won by a razor-thin margin on Saturday after a mysterious assassination bid, but the defeated National Party contender Lien Chan has demanded a recount after discovering many spoiled votes.
Protesters clashed with riot police in several cities over the weekend and about a thousand people have vowed to surround Chen's palace until ballots are recounted.
The political turmoil has riveted nearby Hong Kong, where people are fighting for the right to elect their own leaders from as soon as 2007.
Beijing worries full democracy in Hong Kong could lead to ambitions for independence, the same thing it fears about Taiwan, which it views as a renegade province.
Supporters of Beijing's stance have seized on the pandemonium, saying any political reforms in Hong Kong should only be introduced gradually. The poll on Saturday was only the third presidential election in Taiwan since 1996.
"Hong Kong people should look at it as a case study and see what is democracy and what is universal suffrage," said Raymond Wu, a Hong Kong member of China's parliament who is strongly against calls for direct elections from 2007.
"One does not necessarily equate with the other and democracy without a good system will not bring about the benefits," Wu told Reuters.
On Sunday, pro-China Hong Kong lawmaker Tam Yiu-chung said the chaos in Taiwan should give pause for thought.
"We have to be vigilant and think deeply about it," Tam said, declining to elaborate.
Many pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have held up Taiwan's brand of democracy for years as an example for this former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
For days, Hong Kong people have pored over newspapers and stayed glued to their TV sets for news of Taiwan. Many were dismayed when the situation deteriorated into chaos.
"What? The presidential palace has collapsed?" one shopper shrieked into her mobile phone upon hearing one of the many rumours that were flying around in Hong Kong.
Taiwan's troubles may also be giving some people in Hong Kong second thoughts about their fight for universal suffrage.
"It isn't just the election results that pains me, but the ugliness of the whole thing," said a Hong Kong journalist, who asked to remain unidentified.
"Immediately I was struck with doubts. Can we go so quickly with our political reforms? What if it veers off the path like in Taiwan? It is all very unsettling."
But others are resolute about wanting to elect their own leaders by 2007.
"I'm very confident that we will handle democracy a lot better," said bank employee Javen Lee.
"Taiwan people are very emotional, we are more moderate and sensible. Do you think anyone would sympathise with (Hong Kong leader) Tung Chee-hwa if he got shot?"
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