Admin & Civic Affairs

Reform must proceed within framework

(October 24, 2014)

The Government reiterates in a statement that Hong Kong’s constitutional development must proceed in accordance with the Basic Law and the relevant National People's Congress Standing Committee's interpretation and decisions.
 
It issued the statement in response to media enquiries about the United Nations Human Rights Committee’s report, adding that it has not yet received any official notification from the committee.
 
The statement said the Basic Law’s Article 26 provides that,"Permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall have the right to vote and the right to stand for election in accordance with law",while Article 45 provides that,"The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be selected by election or through consultations held locally and be appointed by the Central People's Government. The method for selecting the Chief Executive shall be specified in the light of the actual situation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress. The ultimate aim is the selection of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures."
 
On August 31, the NPCSC adopted a decision on the Chief Executive election in 2017 and the Legislative council in 2016, which formally determined that universal suffrage for the Chief Executive election through 'one person, one vote' could be implemented from 2017, and provided a clear framework on the selection method.
 
It is the common aspiration of the Central Authorities, the Government, and the public to implement 'one person, one vote' universal suffrage for the Chief Executive election in 2017, the statement said, adding the Government will consult the public on the election's specific method at an appropriate juncture.