Plan unveiled for HK leader's election

The Hong Kong government has revealed its blueprint to implement universal suffrage in the election of the city's chief executive in 2017.

Subject to approval by the local legislature, the election overhaul would fulfill the ultimate aim prescribed in Hong Kong's Basic Law.

Hong Kong's constitutional reform entered a critical juncture after the chief secretary for administration, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuetngor, presented a draft resolution outlining universal suffrage to the city's Legislative Council on Wednesday.

She stressed the government has attempted to find the greatest common ground and strike the right balance among divergent requests without falling outside of the Constitution.

According to the Basic Law, the nominating committee holds the authority to decide which candidates will appear on the ballot. The chief executive would then be chosen by a "one person, one vote" system.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress decided on Aug 31 that the nominating committee will be the same size and have the same representation from all walks of life as the election committee, which chose the incumbent chief executive in 2012.

As the Standing Committee decision requires two or three candidates to run in the election, each nominating committee member would pick at least two hopefuls. Each hopeful must secure majority support from the nominating committee.

The process optimizes the prospects for hopefuls from all backgrounds to enter the final race, Lam told reporters. She said she has faith that nominators would consider the potential backlash of dropping popular choices.

The proposal recommends a "first-past-the-post" threshold, where the candidate with the most votes wins.

kahon@chinadailyhk.com