Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee Vice Chairman Tung Chee Hwa says Hong Kong can still enjoy democracy without civic nomination.
Speaking to the media today, Mr Tung said civic nomination did not comply with the Basic Law nor the National People's Congress Standing Committee’s decision on Hong Kong’s constitutional development.
Many Western countries did not adopt civic nomination, and there is no international standard for the nomination stage of an election.
He urged students to objectively compare the proposed nomination process for Hong Kong with that in Western countries. They might find it to be quite democratic, he added.
Under the ‘One country, two systems’ principle, any international standard for democratic development would not be applicable to Hong Kong.
Mr Tung also said if universal suffrage is to be implemented in 2017, every candidate would have to compete for the support of the nomination committee and every voter.
It would not be possible for a Chief Executive elected by all 5 million eligible voters to ignore public opinion when governing Hong Kong.
He stressed that the 2017 reform proposal is the start rather than the end of Hong Kong’s constitutional development, adding that the Basic Law contained mechanisms to allow for reform to continue.
It would be everyone’s grave loss if the students do not embrace the first step towards universal suffrage, Mr Tung stressed.
