HK opposition reject election reform package By Teddy Ng (China Daily HK Edition/Xinhua) Updated: 2005-12-22 08:35 Beijing disappointed
A spokesman for the Hong
Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said in Beijing Wednesday
that the central government unwilling to see Hong Kong government's
constitutional reform motions voted down.
Although both the two motions on amendment of the Method for Selecting the
Chief Executive in 2007 and the Method for Forming the Legislative Council in
2008 submitted by submitted by the government of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HKSAR) Wednesday won support of over half of the 60-seat
chamber, the Legislative Council (LegCo), they were not adopted because they did
not win a two-thirds majority of the votes, a requirement set by the Basic Law.
The HKSAR government published the two proposals after 18 monthsof
consultation on the basis of soliciting opinions from various walks of life and
submitted them to the LegCo.
Describing the proposals as being in line with the Basic Law and the relevant
explanations and decisions the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress, China's top legislature, made in April of 2004, the spokesman said
that the proposals, representing the principle of developing Hong Kong democracy
in proper order, have received much support from the local public since its
publication and won support of over half of the 60-seat chamber.
But the proposals failed to be adopted as did not win a two-thirds majority
of the votes.
"The HKSAR government and HK public, as well as the central covernment, are
unwilling to see the result as which is not in line with the mainstream of the
public opinions in Hong Kong," said the spokesman.
"We fully agree with and support the statement of the HKSAR Chief Executive
Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and appreciate the efforts the HKSAR government has made
to promote the development of HK political system," the spokesman said.
As the constitutional reform motions failed to be adopted, themethods for
selecting the chief executive in 2007 and for forming the Legislative Council in
2008 will remain the same according to the Basic Law and the relevant
explanations by the Chinese top legislature, he said. "We believe the HKSAR
government can do a good job to ensure the smooth elections in 2007 and 2008."
"It is a persistent stance of the central government to supportthe
development of democracy in proper order in Hong Kong in line with the Basic
Law," he said. "We hope sincerely that all Hong Kong people will find out a
suitable road leading to the development of Hong Kong democracy with a
reasonable and realisticattitude and sense of responsibility for the history."
"We believe that Hong Kong citizens will value much the stable society and
continuous economic development in Hong Kong and seek social solidarity and
harmony," he said. "The central government will continue to spare no efforts to
support the HKSAR government and chief executive to exercise governance and
safeguard and promote the long-standing prosperity and stability of Hong Kong
along with the citizens."
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