HONG KONG: Some lawmakers and Hong Kong delegates to the nation's consultative body and the highest legislature threw their support behind the government's proposal for the political reform for 2012 elections.

Some called the plan "slightly progressive" but will wait for the final proposal and seek voters' views to decide whether to vote "yes" in the legislature.

Authorities yesterday kicked off a three-month consultation on the electoral reform.

Tam Yiu-chung, the chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said he believes the proposal is more likely to win support from lawmakers than the one rejected in 2005.

"I hope it will be passed. It won't be good for society if no progress is made," said Tam, also a Hong Kong delegate to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

The government yesterday proposed to add 10 seats to the current 60-seat legislature - five returned by geographical constituencies, and the others from among elected district councilors.

While some worry that it may be difficult to ask the elected district councilors to give up their legislator seats later on when the legislature is revamped again, Tam said he is unconvinced that it will be a big problem.

Ip Kwok-him, the lawmaker for the District Council sector and a Hong Kong delegate to the National People's Congress, said he can accept not allowing government-appointed district councilors to run for the five newly-proposed functional constituency seats in a bid to win support across the political spectrum.

"It will be acceptable if this can help move our political reform forward," he said, noting that the opposition camp earlier raised worries that the government may intervene in the Legislative Council election result if appointed district councilors can be elected to become lawmakers.

"It is evident that government-appointed district councilors have contributed to the community. Some may feel (they are) being considered as inferior (to elected district councilors) under this proposed arrangement," he said. "(But) I think many would show understanding for the issue."

Miriam Lau Kin-yee, the Liberal Party's chairwoman and a Hong Kong delegate to the National People's Congress, said, "The plan is better than marking time."

She welcomed the government's plan to expand the election committee that chooses the Chief Executive from 800 to 1,200 members.

Lau called the proposed package "slightly progressive", but declined to say directly whether her party will approve the plan in the legislature later on.

She stressed the need to listen to the public's views.

Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, a commercial-sector legislator of the Economic Synergy and a CPPCC delegate, said he agrees with the government's direction but will wait for the final proposal to decide whether to vote "yes" in the council's meeting.

Accountancy-sector lawmaker Paul Chan Mo-po said the proposal is worth considering on the whole.

But he called on the government to consider lowering the threshold for nominating a candidate for the Chief Executive election.

Currently, one has to get nominations from at least one-eighth of the members of the 800-strong election committee.

Leung Chun-ying, the convener of non-official members of the Executive Council, fended off worries that the proposal is tailor-made for any hopeful for the next Chief Executive.

"I believe that neither the central government nor the Special Administrative Region government set this out in order to help a specific person run for (the Chief Executive election)," he said.

Albert Chen Hung-yee, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, said he believes that if the five newly-proposed functional constituency seats are not chosen among elected district councilors, but from other occupational sectors, it may not be beneficial to the transition to a fully-elected LegCo.

Suen Kai-cheong, the chairman of the Wan Chai District Council, said it is good that the proposal can help make the system more liberal.

Any amendment to the electoral methods has to win support from a two-thirds majority of lawmakers.

China Daily

On the number of nominations required for the Chief Executive candidates, the threshold will remain one-eighth, meaning that a candidate would need 150 nominations to qualify as a candidate.

Tang said Hong Kong citizens like to see contested elections like those that were held in 1996 and 2007.

He considered the 12.5 percent threshold appropriate, as it will encourage people to enter, while at the same time ensuring that a candidate must acquire considerable support to enter the race.

Tang also replied to critics that the proposal would turn the LegCo into a place for district affairs.

At present, 15 of 60 lawmakers double as DC members. Given that Hong Kong is small, it is inevitable that the LegCo discuss district affairs, he said.

As to the call from the opposition camp to ask the government to disclose the details of the 2017 and 2020 elections, Tang said the SAR government is authorized to handle the 2012 election only. He also said the current proposal will not touch on the cancellation of the functional constituencies and the division voting system.

As to views and suggestions related to the 2017 and 2020 elections, he said they would sort out the view and pass to the next term government for reference.

(HK Edition 11/19/2009 page1)