Hong Kong will be able to elect, for the first time in history, its head of government by universal suffrage in 2017 if the Government can convince more legislators to listen to people who want one-man-one-vote according to the law.
Chief Executive CY Leung made the statement at the press conference on his 2015 Policy Address today.
He said the focus is to grasp this opportunity according to the Basic Law and National People’s Congress Standing Committee decisions.
He said society has various interpretations of why and how Occupy Central as a movement took the form it did. Some people have suggested more be done to engage young people, and this is a topic covered by the Policy Address.
Mr Leung said filibustering at the Legislative Council has needlessly increased the Government’s workload, affecting its governance and society’s development. He urged legislators to stop such activities.
He said the Government has the responsibility to initiate discussion on importing skilled labour for the construction industry because a prolonged shortage has increased construction costs and will slow works projects. Local workers’ interests will be safeguarded, he added.
In response to questions on his criticism of a publication by the Hong Kong University Students’ Union, he said to advocate Hong Kong’s independence impacts the city's core constitutional values and society must be alerted to it.
He said he respects free speech and appreciates that students care for Hong Kong’s development, adding there is no timetable at present to legislate Basic Law Article 23.
