Can We Calm Down Yet?

So when Hong Kong's chief executive stepped down and his deputy (Sir Donald Tsang) was promoted, some smelled a plot by Beijing to force Tsang on HK for another five years without any elections.

Well, we can all relax a bit. HK's justice secretary (I imagine appointed by Beijing) has "decided, following consultations with Beijing, that Tung's deputy Donald Tsang should serve until a July election is held and the winning candidate will then serve Tung's remaining two-year term, instead of the mandated five years."

So to be clear, instead of no elections, the HKers are getting two elections. One in July, then another in two years. The next question will be who gets to vote, and how much their votes will count versus Beijing's. Still, I'm optimistic.