Universal suffrage in 2017 not `final spot' in reform
Eddie Luk Friday, July 18, 2014
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Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor urges lawmakers to make it possible for Hong Kong's five million voters to choose the 2017 chief executive by one person, one vote.
In a newspaper article published today, she said that once the system is in place, it may be fine-tuned for future elections.
The article comes in the wake of a report by Chief Executive Leung Chun- ying to the National People's Congress Standing Committee formally asking it to amend the election method for the 2017 CE election.
Pan-democrats had earlier expressed concern that once the die is cast, there will be no room for refining future electoral arrangements.
"Some people regard the universal suffrage system of 2017 as the final stage of constitutional development, making parties further polarized to hold on to their views about the arrangement," Lam wrote.
"My personal view on this point is that the relevant system could be further refined after the implementation of universal suffrage. Implementing universal suffrage in 2017 for the selection of the CE is our first step. This first step will allow over five million eligible voters to elect the CE through `one person, one vote.'
"Once put in place, the arrangement will form an integral component of the HKSAR's constitutional system which will not turn back but only forge ahead, and could be further refined."
Lam admitted the most difficult in the "five-step process" is to get the proposal passed by a two-thirds majority of all lawmakers.
Lam said this meant the proposal must receive cross- party support to some extent and political parties must adjust their stance and make compromises.
Admitting the political atmosphere in the community is tense, Lam said "real politics should work for the long-term and overall interests of the community."
She went on: "A consensus on realizing the goal of universal suffrage is not unattainable if we bear the common good in mind, move a step further, and try to resolve the differences or even stop insisting on some of one's own views."
Lam said Hong Kong's political reform is an important state business to the central government.She said the Basic Law provides that Hong Kong shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy.
"Being a local administrative region as opposed to an independent polity, the design and development of Hong Kong's political structure must follow the requirements prescribed by the NPC pursuant to the constitution."
Lam said the selection of the chief executive by universal suffrage "not only concerns the people of Hong Kong, but is also an important state business in terms of the relationship between the central and local authorities."
She will attend the Legislative Council's constitutional affairs panel meeting on Monday to further explain the government report summarizing the five- month consultation on political reform.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Lau Kong-wah denied the report is biased.
Professor Lau Siu-kai, vice president of the National Association of Study on Hong Kong and Macau, is not optimistic the government's political reform will secure the two-thirds majority in Legco.
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=11&art_id=147518&sid=42640121&con_type=1&d_str=20140718&fc=10
