Britainís uneasiness has the world watching Hong Kongís upcoming election. Britain is questioning how democratic the legislative election will be. Hong Kongís election process for a new legislative council has become the center of international and domestic controversies.

China is accusing Britain of interference with the May 24, 1998 election. The British Consulate General had invited candidates from their former colony to discuss the first election under Chinese rule. According to an article from Inside China Today, Chinaís Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhu Bangzao angrily reacted on May 10, 1998 to the invitation.

"After Hong Kongís return to China, the question of Hong Kong is entirely an internal matter of China," Zhu said.

Professor Sean Shieh, specializing in Asian studies at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., described Chinaís reaction to possible influence by Britain. "It is unlikely that Britain is trying to influence the elections," he said. "This is an overstatement."

Britain Consulate General Spokesman Trevor Adams defended Britain to Inside China Today, denying any interference. "We are merely informing ourselves about it," he said. "We are merely going to listen to what they have to say."

Professor Shieh sees this situation as strange for China and Britain. "If Britain wants to ensure their agreement with China they must establish a working relationship based on trust," he said. Shieh went on to say that if Britain is hesitant towards Hong Kongís future under China, publicity such as this is not the way to express it. As for China, Shieh stressed its sensitivity and views it as being paranoid.

The Sino-British Joint Declaration states that Hong Kong will continue to be autonomous under Chinaís rule for 50 years without interference by Britain. Chinaís accusations of interference are said to be in violation of this accord. According to a CNN on-line article the Chinese Foreign Ministry released a statement describing this.

"It is inappropriate for foreign consular offices and their personnelÖto get involved, in whatever way, in matters concerning the elections."

Even after the controversial invitation British Consulate Official Helen Brook visited Democratic Party Headquarters on Tuesday May 12, 1998. She discussed the problems New Territories West Candidate Lee Wing-tat saw with a proportional representative system. South China Morning Post reported that the Electoral Affairs Commission Chairman Justice Woo Kwok-hing warned the international community of any interference.

Following the July 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China, Britain urged it to hold free and fair elections, making it their policy to ensure democracy does not leave their former colony. Britainís hesitancy towards the elections derives from reservations it has about parts of the election process. One issue was how a majority of the legislature will be elected. Such sources as CNN reported that the entire 60 seat legislative council was to be re-elected.

Professor Shieh said that only part of the 60 seats would be elected through direct elections. "This information seems to be misleading," he said. According to Hong Kongís Basic Law, there is only a small percentage that will be elected directly. Beijing will control the rest. Britain was also fearful that the election set for May might be taken back just as civil liberties were when Chinese troops entered Hong Kong last July.

An Agence France-Presse article from 1997 reported that Hong Kongís then future leader, Tung Chee-hwa had promised that an election would be set for May 1998. With the election coming nearer, there hasnít been any change. International pressure is continuously placed on China to follow through with the democratic elections.

According to an Agence-France Presse article, U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright said that Chinaís reputation is at stake. Controversy has also come from inside Hong Kong as to the elections being held democratically. Martin Lee, leader of Hong Kongís Democratic Party, discussed the impact of this first democratic election on the future of Hong Kong in a CNN-Time Impact Online Forum.

"True democracy is not to be equated only with free and democratic elections," he said. "But without fair and democratic elections, you donít even get started."

Democratic elections, in the United States rely on a diverse number of voices and opinions. They also come with scandal and fierce competition. Hong Kong is experiencing all of these elements. South China Morning Post has reported that members of the Democratic Party have been accused of persuading pro-democracy candidates from backing out of the election. Mozart Lui Yat-ming told the South China Morning Post he had been asked by a Democrat to leave his candidacy with a bribe.

"If someone uses threats or offers advantages to others for the sake of his own interests, that is clearly undermining the democratic system," Lui said.

According to Hong Kongís Basic Law, complete direct elections of government should be reached by the third term of elections. Professor Shieh sees the international and domestic problems Hong Kong is facing as a hindrance to bringing direct, democratic elections to Hong Kong.