Despite recent mass pro-democracy protests, Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (梁振英) yesterday called for limited electoral change in the territory, saying in a report to China that voters want a “patriotic” chief executive.
Discontent has flared in the semi-autonomous territory over what is seen as increasing interference by Beijing, notably its insistence that it vet candidates before the next leadership election in 2017.
In the report submitted to China’s National People’s Congress (NPCSC), or parliament, Leung said that “there is a need to amend the method for selecting the CE [chief executive] in 2017 in order to attain the aim of universal suffrage.”
Photo: Reuters
Leung said universal suffrage in the 2017 poll “will be an important milestone of the democratic development of Hong Kong’s political system, with significant real impact and historic meaning.”
Currently, the leader is chosen by a 1,200-strong pro-Beijing committee. China says voters can elect the next chief executive, but candidates must be picked by a nominating committee, raising fears among democracy advocates that only pro-Beijing figures will be allowed.
Saying he was citing findings of an official public consultation period on reform, Leung’s report said “mainstream opinion” was that a nominating committee should choose candidates, in line with the city’s mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law.
Reflecting another Chinese stipulation, he added that “the community generally agrees that the CE should be a person who ‘loves the Country and loves Hong Kong.’”
He later told a news conference that the difficulties in forging a local consensus were not to be underestimated, but said: “Hong Kong people are rational and pragmatic.”
“What is important is that if the international standards do not comply with the Basic Law and the decisions of the NPCSC we have to follow the Basic Law and the NPCSC decision,” he said.
Pro-democracy activists are pushing for the public to select candidates, which China has ruled out.
The Occupy Central group and its allies have said that they will take over the territory’s Central District if public nomination is refused.
An informal poll organized by Occupy last month saw almost 800,000 choose from three options, all of which included public nomination of candidates, while a a pro-democracy march on July 1 attracted tens of thousands.
Pro-democracy lawmaker Frederick Fung (馮檢基) said he felt “angry” about the report, which he said “does not fully reflect the yearnings of the Hong Kong people.”
Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau (劉慧卿) told reporters: “Our fear is that if Beijing is misled by inaccurate information, then they may make some very wrong decisions,” while activist Johnson Yeung (楊政賢) said the government had “ignored the huge consensus of Hong Kong people and ... selectively listened to opinions from the pro-government groups.”
Leung insisted that the report reflected a variety of views.
He admitted there were divergent opinions on how the next leader should be elected, including “considerable views” that civil nomination should be included, but added that “professional bodies of the legal sector and other members of the public” had said that would not be in line with the Basic Law.
Leung’s report has been sent to the NPCSC’s Standing Committee, which meets next month and must approve any reforms.
There were angry scenes at the Hong Kong Legislative Council yesterday when the government’s second-in-command, Hong Kong Chief Secretary of Administration Carrie Lam (林鄭月娥), announced the findings of the public consultation, which polled more than 120,000 individuals and groups.
Lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung (梁國雄) threw an inflatable hammer and a birdcage with the words “civil nomination” written in Chinese inside it at Lam.
Fellow legislator Albert Chan (陳偉業) ripped up a copy of the report, shouting “Fake report, fake consultation,” as he was removed.
Outside, a handful of pro-democracy protesters were out-numbered by hundreds of elderly activists from pro-Beijing groups, many waving red Chinese national flags.
The submission of Leung Chun-ying’s report is the first in a five-step process on electoral reform.
“The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress has final say on whether to revise the election methods of Hong Kong SAR’s [special administrative region] chief executive in 2017 and its Legislative Council in 2016,” the Xinhua news agency’s Web site cited the Chinese parliament as saying yesterday after receiving the report.
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
AMENDMENT: Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of high-temperature days, affecting economic productivity and public health, experts said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) is considering amending the Meteorological Act (氣象法) to classify “high temperatures” as “hazardous weather,” providing a legal basis for work or school closures due to extreme heat. CWA Administrator Lu Kuo-chen (呂國臣) yesterday said the agency plans to submit the proposed amendments to the Executive Yuan for review in the fourth quarter this year. The CWA has been monitoring high-temperature trends for an extended period, and the agency contributes scientific data to the recently established High Temperature Response Alliance led by the Ministry of Environment, Lu said. The data include temperature, humidity, radiation intensity and ambient wind,
SECOND SPEECH: All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist the CCP, despite their differences, the president said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday discussed how pro-Taiwan and pro-Republic of China (ROC) groups can agree to maintain solidarity on the issue of protecting Taiwan and resisting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The talk, delivered last night at Taoyuan’s Hakka Youth Association, was the second in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. Citing Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui’s (蔣渭水) slogan that solidarity brings strength, Lai said it was a call for political parties to find consensus amid disagreements on behalf of bettering the nation. All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist
RSS