To tell the truth, in my point of view, free election is not a bad thing. Choosing a local government in a democracy way doesn't mean that Hongkong will become a different country / split from China. Indonesia has the experience of having free election, from our highest government entity, the president, governor, to our local government, the mayor. But it doesn't mean that my town is not an Indonesia town anymore.
The problem is with China is, They are a communism government. So their political system will be very different to Indonesia; which is a full democracy country (although right now we struggle for our democracy right). But China and Hongkong has an agreement that you call "one country two system". And you even consider Hongkong as different country. Look at the Asian Game. Even Hongkong and Macau has their own athlete representative. So in my own view of point, Hongkong should has the right to decide their own government system. BUT I understand what Beijing afraid of. A fully independent local government will definitely hard to control. And Beijing is definitely has the right to control Hongkong, as Hongkong is still considered as a part of China.
So, I think the best way to solve Hongkong problem is that both parties can compromise and seek the middle way to solve their difference. According to Chinese Dragon, Beijing has given some election right to Hongkong people, by choosing some representative that is already accepted by CCP. I think it is already a good progress. So, now Hongkong people should be patient and accept this "Middle Way" rather than forcing their will to get a free election.
If both parties accepted the limited democracy that Beijing offer, the democracy in Hongkong can progress in a slow and step by step way. The next step should be that CCP should open a branch in Hongkong that can accommodate Hongkong people who want to join politic and voice their political view. And these Hongkong People who join the CCP branch should be prioritize to join the election. By then, Beijing just need to watch their branch in Hongkong, and Hongkong CCP party just need to watch the local government like in a democracy country where the Parliament watch their government.
I think it is already a democracy model of a government.
A multiple parties democracy is not better than a single party government. Because having more than one political parties who have different political ideology will only hampered the country. I don't believe political party. They are not people representative, and they are usually just act like a parasite who always disturb Government's plan. So a single party democracy will be better for Hongkong who seek a democracy model of government. But once again, it should go step by step. Not just doing giant leap that will only destabilize the country.