SEPTEMBER 1, 2014
Weekend political highlights in Hong Kong
Your real vote?
Following the announcement of an electoral framework for the CE elections set by the Central Government, a new set of promotional materials have been rolled out by the government.
With the new tagline “Your Vote. Gotta have it!”, the poster claims, “if LegCo passes the reform package, you will no longer be a bystander at the next CE election, but the active participant in the selection of the CE by ‘one person, one vote’.”
However, not all in Hong Kong are happy about the package as outlined in the NPC report. In addition to the Sunday night rallies, Brian Fong Chi-hang (方志恆), Assistant Professor of Department of Asian and Policy Studies of Hong Kong Institute of Education, one of the 18 scholars who earlier this year proposed public recommendation of CE candidates, published a petition titled, “Even though no further discussion, the heart for democracy never dies-- A letter to all Hong Kong citizens”. (《對話之路雖盡，民主之心不死 ── 致全港市民書》)The petition claims the Central Government has betrayed the promise of “democracy rules Hong Kong”, which it has verbally committed to since the 1980s. Fong and his fellows feel extremely disappointed and indignant. The petition urges citizens to be united and fight for hong Kong’s democracy. Over 50 scholars signed the petition, including HKU law professor Eric Cheung Tat-ming (張達明), HKU social work professor Law Chi-kwong(羅致光) and HKCU Government and Public Administration lecturer and former president of the LegCo, Andrew Wong Wang-fat (黃宏發).
ATV will still be there
The Communications Authority had a closed-door meeting on Saturday (30/8) to discuss the broadcast license renewal application from ATV. Even though the license for ATV will expire in November, the license for ATV to use the radio frequency spectrum will only expire in 2018. Therefore, ATV can still occupy the spectrum for three more years even if its broadcast license is not renewed.
LegCo discusses Universal Pension Scheme
LegCo had a meeting of the Subcommittee on Retirement Protection on Friday (29/8). Matthew Cheung Kin-chung (張建宗), Secretary for Labour and Welfare, and Nelson Chow Wing-sun (周永新) also attended the meeting. Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung (張超雄) (GC- New Territories East, Labour Party) moved a motion to urge the Government to suggest a detailed proposal and a legislative timeline to show its determination to create Universal Pension Scheme. The motion was passed by other members in the subcommittee, including Tang Ka-piu (鄧家彪) (FC- Labour, FTU) and Poon Siu-ping (潘兆平) (FC- Labour, FTU). Matthew Cheung said the Government has an open attitude on this issue.
http://harbourtimes.com/openpublish/article/weekend-highlights-september-1st
