Mainland experts calls for rationality toward HK electoral reform

BEIJING - Experts on the Chinese mainland have called on the Hong Kong residents to consider top legislature's decision on the city's electoral reform with an open attitude.

All walks of life in Hong Kong should keep a rational, open and pragmatic attitude, and seek consensus on the basis of legal principles, said Han Dayuan, dean of the Law School of Renmin University of China.

The decision was made with the Hong Kong people's interests as the basic starting point and was a judgement based on the Constitution and the Basic Law of Hong Kong, Han said.

The National People's Congress Standing Committee granted a universal suffrage in the selection of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)'s chief executive on Sunday, but the candidates should be nominated by a "broadly representative" committee.

The decision only stipulates a general framework for the electoral reform, such as the way of nomination and the number of nominees, other specific procedures and methods can be worked out through a second public consultation, Han said, adding Hong Kong people have access to the local government and can express their opinions.

For the first time Hong Kong residents will have the chance to directly vote for their chief executive. Hong Kong people should cherish the chance, said Wang Zhenmin, dean of School of Law with Tsinghua University.

The candidates must be selected by more than half of the members of the nomination committee, which can help "prevent extremity and promote consensus," according to Qiang Shigong, a law professor with Peking University.

Han Dayuan said, Hong Kong is a city ruled by law, if some do not agree with or understand the decision or even oppose it, they are supposed to express their appeal and seek public support via legal channels.

"(They) can't damage the rule of law, (they) can't resort to non-legal ways such as the apparently illegal 'Occupy Central' movement," Han said.

As long as Hong Kong advances the suffrage process strictly abiding by the Basic Law and the top legislature's decision, the historic vote is close at hand, He said.

But if a few people abduct the people's will and challenge the rule of law and the central authorities, they are likely to ruin the hard-won chance, Han warned.