2014-08-31
HKT 11:39
The National People's Congress Standing Committee is expected to endorse this afternoon a highly conservative framework for political reform in Hong Kong; and local NPC delegates, Ip Kwok-him and Ma Fung-kwok, believe there'll be little change to a draft resolution which was published on Thursday.
According to sources, the document called for the composition and size of the future Nominating Committee for the 2017 Chief Executive election to remain exactly the same as the existing Election Committee which has 1,200 members, and four sectors.
It also said future CE hopefuls can only become candidates with the endorsement of over half the Nominating Committee; and that the number of candidates will be capped at two or three.
Mr Ma and Mr Ip urged pan-democratic lawmakers --
who have pledged to veto any political reform package which does not comply with international democratic standards -- to think again.
They said giving Hong Kong one person one vote is an historic accomplishment, and if pan-democratic lawmakers do decide on a veto, the Chief Executive election in 2017 will remain a small circle election as it was in 2012.
http://m.rthk.hk/news/20140831/1033766.htm
