Admin & Civic Affairs

Legislator’s remarks inaccurate: CS

(March 19, 2014)

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam says legislator Kwok Ka-ki misquoted her, adding his interpretation of her remarks in a constitutional reform meeting with legislators this morning surprised her.
 
In response to Mr Kwok’s remarks that she “threatened” there would be no “Plan B” if the 2017 universal suffrage proposal is not passed, Mrs Lam said she did not use such language.
 
She clarified that she had simply stated the facts that the Basic Law endowed Hong Kong the right to select its Chief Executive by universal suffrage, while the 2007 decision by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee provided a timetable.
 
Mrs Lam said the NPCSC decision stated that if universal suffrage was not achieved in 2017, the 2012 selection method should be retained. In such a case, it might be necessary to restart the “five-step process” of constitutional development, she added.
 
She said the Central Government, the Hong Kong Government and the people of Hong Kong all wish to achieve universal suffrage in 2017, and as such, the Government strives to enhance communication between legislators and the Central Government to forge a consensus.