Consensus sought:
Chief Secretary Carrie Lam briefs the media on the public consultation exercise.
Consensus sought:
Chief Secretary Carrie Lam briefs the media on the public consultation exercise.
CS urges reform consensus
December 04, 2013
Chief Secretary Carrie Lam urged the public to forge a consensus on political reform today, after launching a five-month public consultation exercise on the methods for selecting the Chief Executive in 2017 and for forming the Legislative Council in 2016.
Mrs Lam, Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen and Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam spoke to the media after the consultation's launch.
Mrs Lam said for this consultation round, the Government will not put forward any specific proposals, and will not comment on any proposals raised by others.
The Consultation Document sets out key issues for public comment, under the framework of the Basic Law and National People’s Congress Standing Committee interpretations and decisions.
Those related to selecting the Chief Executive include the nominating committee’s size, composition, electorate base and forming method; procedure for nominating Chief Executive candidates; voting arrangements by universal suffrage; procedure for appointing the Chief Executive and the linkage with local legislation; and, the Chief Executive’s political affiliation.
Key issues relating to the method for forming the Legislative Council include the number of seats and composition of the council; composition and electorate base of functional constituencies; and, number of geographical constituencies and the number of seats in each of them.
Mr Lam said people who understand the Chief Executive's constitutional duty and status as laid down in the Basic Law will come to the conclusion that the Chief Executive must love the country and Hong Kong, and not be against the Central Government.
She said it is the common aspiration of the Central Authorities, the Hong Kong Government and its people to achieve universal suffrage for the Chief Executive election in 2017.
“I appeal to all quarters of the community, particularly political leaders and Legislative Council members, to take into account that if we do not seize the opportunity, constitutional development in Hong Kong will have to suffer from an impasse again, and what possible implications this may bring about to the political, social and economic stability of Hong Kong.”
She urged the public to discuss the matter in a rational, peaceful and pragmatic manner, with an open, accommodating and inclusive mind.
The public can send their views to the Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau by email by May 3.
The consultation document can be obtained from the 18 District Offices or downloaded here.
