Patriots can be Beijing critics too, liberal judge Kemal Bokhary says
People who single out unpleasant aspects of the mainland are not necessarily disloyal to the country, liberal judge Kemal Bokhary says
Criticism of the mainland in areas one dislikes does not amount to being unpatriotic - a trait Beijing officials have signalled should disqualify one from vying for chief executive - a liberal judge of the top court says.
Justice Kemal Bokhary, a non-permanent judge at the Court of Final Appeal, also said a referendum should be held for certain issues to increase the level of democracy.
If you see something that you do not like about the mainland and you criticise it, that is not an attack against the country," Bokhary said. "It is simply a suggestion for improvement. That is not unpatriotic
If you see something that you do not like about the mainland and you criticise it, that is not an attack against the country. It is simply a suggestion for improvement. That is not unpatriotic
The retired judge spoke in a February interview with Chinese University publication published yesterday. His words came about a month before Qiao Xiaoyang , chairman of the National People's Congress Law Committee, said on March 24 that future chief executives must "love the country and love Hong Kong" and "not confront the central government".
Qiao's sentiments were shared by Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference chairman Yu Zhengsheng and Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Wang Guangya , generating heated debate on who is patriotic and what the concept entails.
The outspoken Bokhary, who believed he was obliged to accept retirement because of his liberal views, also said full democracy could still be unattainable although the central leadership had pledged to allow universal suffrage in the 2017 chief executive election.
"Democracy in Hong Kong may always be limited for the simple reason that … the selection of the chief executive will involve nomination," he said.
