Beijing-granted plan for democracy at least moves city forward

Politics is a messy word, and democracy is more than just a dictionary explanation.

In every country, the structure of government is complex, and many issues have to be considered. The primary consideration should be to address the needs of the majority so that the nation can progress. There must be room for compromise.

Hong Kong's Occupy protests led by the students and a group of pro-democracy lawmakers were blinkered, and facts were often overlooked.

Hong Kong has enjoyed a stable economy with its commendable rule of law. It has democratic systems, and its corruption is under control. It is now part of China, and while it has a degree of autonomy, it cannot be allowed to have a totally free hand in its democratic pursuits, as that could be seen as seeking a path towards independence.

The decision made by the central government for the election of the chief executive in 2017 is a step forward. Despite the controversy over how the candidates will be selected, Beijing will still allow the final selection to be made based on the votes of Hong Kong permanent residents. In other words, they will have a choice.

This is a major step forward, given that during more than 150 years of British rule, citizens were not given a choice. Whether what is being proposed is an ideal democracy is debatable, but we cannot be naive to expect an immediate realisation of an ideal democratic city in a communist country. In fact, there is no ideal democracy in the world.