Admin & Civic Affairs

More chances for reform talks: CS

(April 14, 2014)

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam says there will be more opportunities for the Central Government and Hong Kong lawmakers to discuss constitutional reform, adding the Hong Kong Government will facilitate the talks.
 
Speaking to reporters today, Mrs Lam said communication is important to constitutional reform because mutual trust helps solve problems.
 
She said she is glad to hear that some lawmakers affirmed the Shanghai trip’s effectiveness in strengthening communication between the Central Government and Hong Kong’s legislators.
 
She said the trip was a very good start and there should be more meetings to narrow differences and forge consensus.
 
She believes there will be more opportunities because Director of the Central Government's Liaison Office in Hong Kong Zhang Xiaoming has already said he will arrange meetings with Hong Kong lawmakers he has not yet met, which will be very important to constitutional reform.
 
Implementing Chief Executive selection by universal suffrage is the common hope of most Hong Kong people and at the same time everyone’s responsibility, Mrs Lam said, urging Hong Kong lawmakers to cherish communication opportunities.
 
She expects the Government will receive more reform proposal submissions in the coming weeks. After the consultation ends, it will prepare a report to be submitted to the National People's Congress Standing Committee by the Chief Executive.
 
The Government will continue to promote the Basic Law after the consultation ends because people’s understanding of the Basic Law is very important to constitutional reform, she added.