The Government is resolute in opposing the unlawful occupation by Occupy Central, and the Police are determined to handle the situation appropriately in accordance with the law.
The Government issued a statement in response to the official launch of the Occupy Central movement and its two demands: to withdraw the August 31 decision made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and to restart the Chief Executive's constitutional development consultation.
The statement said that the Chief Executive and the Government have all along been listening attentively to members of the public, and are committed to maintaining a diverse society.
People were also encouraged to express their aspirations peacefully, rationally and lawfully, and to respect and accommodate different views in society.
The statement reiterated that the National People's Congress Standing Committee's decision on Hong Kong's constitutional development has been made in strict accordance with the relevant provisions of the Basic Law and after detailed and careful deliberation of the actual situation in Hong Kong and the views of various sectors of the community. It is legally binding.
The Government noted that the NPCSC has decided that Hong Kong will elect its next Chief Executive in 2017 by universal suffrage, which is an important step forward in the constitutional development of Hong Kong and is surely better than a stalemate.
The Chief Executive and the Government also vowed to, in accordance with the Basic Law and the relevant decision of the NPCSC, try all efforts in a bid to implement the election of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage in 2017.
The Government will launch the next stage of the consultation on constitutional development shortly, and appeals to various sectors of the community to engage in rational discussions through peaceful and lawful means, to reach a consensus while accepting differences and to allow the five million eligible voters in Hong Kong to elect the Chief Executive in 2017 by one person, one vote.
