Jimmy Lai says he has learned his lesson and will never trust a 'take it first' election reform formula being pushed by the Hong Kong government. Photo: RTHK
Media tycoon Jimmy Lai said he was wrong to believe Beijing would make Hong Kong’s election system more representative after he supported the Democratic Party’s political reform deal with the central government in 2010.
Lai said the experience had taught him a lesson and he would not accept the “take it first” formula being pushed by the Hong Kong government, he told public broadcaster RTHK.
“I wrongly believed that then. Certainly now there will be no such thing,” he said.
The 2010 deal enabled the Legislative Council to pass a law expanding the legislature by 10 seats, half of which would be filled by direct election.
Lai said Hong Kong people should not accept a fake election system for choosing their next leader.
“Why do we want a fake [election package]? How about I give you a fake woman to be your wife?” he said.
Lai made the comments one day before China’s legislature announced an election framework that gives it control over the outcome of the 2017 chief executive election by limiting the candidates to three to be chosen by a Beijing-backed nominating committee.
He said he will participate in a planned civil disobedience protest by Occupy Central, sleep on the streets and go to jail if necessary.
The protest, which is expected to temporarily shut down the main business and financial district, will be peaceful and will be guided by the moral strength of its participants, Lai said.
Meanwhile, several top academics urged different sectors to reach a political consensus for the sake of Hong Kong.
Peking University law professor Rao Geping said Hong Kong people should voice their opinions within the framework set by the National People’s Congress, such as the composition of the nominating committee and whether there should be two or three candidates for chief executive.
He said the chief executive candidate has to love the country and Hong Kong to ensure the election will not create any constitutional crisis.
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