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Gridlock on the Road to Democracy
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Hong Kong is headed for political gridlock after a huge rally on Dec. 4 in favor of greater democracy for the city. The unexpectedly big turnout250,000 claimed by the organizers, 63,000 by the authoritieshas hardened the positions of both the pro-democracy camp and the Chinese leadership in Beijing. The democrats are emboldened, and more determined than ever to push for "universal suffrage": a Chief Executive chosen by the people and not a narrow electoral college; and for a fully elected legislature, not the mixed bag of members currently chosen by either popular vote or professional groups. Beijing, for its part, refuses...