Joshua Wong and Cheng Yiu-tong take issue with calls for the removal of Leung Chun-ying as chief executive
TONY.CHEUNG@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Saturday, 21 May, 2016, 6:15pm
Cheng Yiu-tong says re-election is Leung Chun-ying’s personal choice. Photo: Dickson Lee
Student activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung and Beijing loyalist Cheng Yiu-tong both agreed it would have been inappropriate if pan-democrat lawmakers had told a visiting state leader to remove Leung Chun-ying as Hong Kong’s chief executive.
They were referring to a meeting on Wednesday between four pan-democrats and National People’s Congress chairman Zhang Dejiang. The four said beforehand that they would focus on removing Leung and restarting the political reform process to achieve a popular ballot for the city’s top job.
Speaking on RTHK on Saturday morning, Wong, secretary general of the Demosisto party, said he “felt uncomfortable” about calls for Leung to be removed.
Activist Joshua Wong said the four pan-democrats should have focused on demands for universal suffrage. Photo: AFP
“It seems they ignored the electoral system in Hong Kong,” he said. “I think pan-democrats should have focused on Hongkongers’ demand for universal suffrage and self-determination ... because it’s the political system’s fault, not just a person’s.”
Wong and four other young activists were arrested on Thursday for trying to get close to Zhang’s motorcade.
Speaking on TVB’s On The Record, Executive Councillor Cheng said he heard the pan-democrats “telling Zhang to stop Leung from seeking re-election” next March.
“They should not say that because they are popularly elected lawmakers ... Re-election is also Leung’s personal choice,” said the local deputy to the NPC.
What we said was that Leung caused social divisions and it would be inappropriate for him to seek another term
LAWMAKER CYD HO SAU-LAN
However, speaking on Commercial Radio, Labour Party lawmaker Cyd Ho Sau-lan clarified that they did not ask Zhang to remove Leung.
“What we said was that Leung caused social divisions and it would be inappropriate for him to seek another term,” Ho explained. “We also mentioned that the problematic electoral system should be reformed.”
The Democratic Party’s Emily Lau Wai-hing also said she told Zhang that it was inappropriate for Leung to govern Hong Kong.
On Saturday, the Post reported that according to a mainland source, authorities across the border were working on a short trip to Shenzhen for Hong Kong lawmakers. Lau reiterated that while she welcomed more dialogue, the trip must take into account the busy schedule of the Legislative Council.
During Zhang’s visit in Hong Kong from Tuesday to Thursday, he dismissed calls for self-determination and independence as “unfeasible” and not acceptable “to the vast majority of Hongkongers”.
Zhang Dejiang arrives for his three-day visit to Hong Kong on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
Speaking after a meeting with Basic Law Committee vice-chairman Zhang Rongshun in Beijing on Saturday morning, Hong Kong barrister Lawrence Ma Yan-kwok said Zhang Rongshun had also hit out at pro-independence activists.
“Zhang Rongshun said [advocacy for] Hong Kong independence is not a problem because it does not have the strength. But even if it has the strength, it will be easy for Beijing because the central government has the law, cannon and guns to handle it,” Ma said.
According to Article 14 of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, the Chinese army’s garrison in Hong Kong shall not interfere in the city’s affairs. But the Hong Kong government may ask Beijing, when necessary, for assistance from the garrison to maintain public order.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1949427/rare-consensus-hong-kong-student-activist-and-pro-beijing
