Chief Secretary Carrie Lam says the Government is optimistic of achieving universal suffrage in 2017 if the gap between opposing views can be closed.
Speaking to the media after attending the Legislative Council Panel on Constitutional Affairs meeting today, Mrs Lam said achieving the goal of universal suffrage is a common aspiration of the Central and Hong Kong Governments, and the community.
"It is really for us to work together to achieve that objective. The 70 members of the Legislative Council are going to play a major decisive role in this exercise, because, according to our 'five-step process', they have to approve, by a two-thirds majority, whatever proposal the Hong Kong Government is going to put to the Legislative Council.
"So, with a very clear objective and with the common aspiration shared by all, I and my colleagues remain very optimistic that through this first-stage consultation and a very sincere attitude to engage with the public, that we would be able to achieve that ultimate objective."
Mrs Lam said she wants to achieve consensus between pan-democratic legislators and other lawmakers.
"There is still considerable room for us to discuss with pan-democratic members in the Legislative Council. But it is not just a matter of us convincing the pan-democratic members, because we have 40-plus other members who also have a pretty strong view on this important topic. So it is really trying to bridge the gap and bring two parties together to achieve universal suffrage in the selection of the Chief Executive."
