Hong Kong Wednesday announced new proposals for how the city should choose its next leader but made clear that candidates would still be screened — the key issue behind more than two months of mass protests.
More than 20 lawmakers carrying yellow umbrellas — the symbol of the pro-democracy movement — walked out of the legislative chamber as the consultation document was about to be presented by government number two Carrie Lam.
They shouted: “I want universal suffrage” as they left the chamber, forcing a brief adjournment.
The document, posted online so that residents can give their views, outlines options for how leadership candidates will be nominated as well as for the composition of the nominating committee which democracy campaigners fear will be stacked with pro-Beijing figures.
But Lam emphasised that the process would have to adhere to China’s ruling on vetting candidates.
“Any attempt to revoke the Beijing decision is unrealistic,” she said.
China has pledged that voters in Hong Kong can elect the city’s next chief executive in 2017 — the first time there has ever been a public vote.
But it insists that only two or three candidates can stand, and that they will be vetted by a loyalist committee.
That decision sparked demonstrations that brought tens of thousands onto the streets at their height, before protest camps were cleared in December.
– ‘Doomed’ process –
The government has billed the reform process as “historic” and says that it wants to reflect the “pluralistic” nature of Hong Kong society in the vote for the next leader. But campaigners have branded it fake democracy.
Protesters from the pro-democracy Civic Party gathered outside the legislative council building Wednesday morning.
But they were shouted down by around 30 pro-government demonstrators waving a large Chinese flag.
“We urge the chief secretary not to waste another two months doing something that is doomed from the start,” Civic Party lawmaker Alan Leong told reporters, as pro-government protesters shouted “Alan Leong is a running dog”.
The second round of consultation is the last official gauge of public opinion before a finalised proposal on electoral reform is put before the legislative council.
Pro-democracy lawmakers have vowed to vote against the plan unless it revokes the vetting of candidates — something that authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing have consistently said is out of the question.
If the final framework fails to pass with a two thirds majority it would mean a delay in the introduction of universal suffrage to Hong Kong.
“If the bill is not passed, Hong Kong’s democratic development will be delayed… until 2022,” Lam said.
“I urge democrats not to boycott the consultation or veto the bill because that would deprive the public of the right vote.”
But activists say they would rather have no public vote in 2017 if it is not fully free.
Currently the city’s leader is chosen by a pro-Beijing committee.
Political analyst Sonny Lo said it was “too early to say” whether the final reform bill would be passed, with the possibility that some pro-democrats could be persuaded by public opinion to vote for it.
“Public sentiment in Hong Kong is politically pragmatic. Most people would like to see a more harmonious way of discussion over political reform,” he said.
Although the protest camps have been cleared there is still discontent and fears about China’s increasing influence over the semi-autonomous city.
But many residents also became frustrated with the fragmented democracy movement and camps which brought parts of the city to a standstill.
Hong Kong was handed from Britain back to China in 1997 and enjoys freedoms not seen on the mainland.