Society

Nod to HK electoral reform 'a victory'

By Han Yan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-26 10:48

Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang (center left) and members of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong thank supporters of the government's political reform package outside the Legislative Council on Friday. Edmond Tang / China Daily

Method of picking chief executive included, NPC approval still required

HONG KONG - Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chief Executive Donald Tsang on Friday hailed the legislature's approval of the government's electoral reform package as "a victory of reason" and "a milestone in the city's democratic development".

Hong Kong SAR lawmakers on Friday voted 46-12, a greater than 75 per cent majority, in favor of the amendments to the government's electoral arrangements for the Legislative Council (LegCo) election in 2012.

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The legislature's approval marked the passage of the entire reform package, which also includes the method for selecting the chief executive in 2012. The chief executive electoral arrangement plan sailed through the legislature in a separate vote on Thursday.

"What we see here today is not a victory of any individual or any one party," Tsang told reporters.

"It is a triumph of reason for the entire Hong Kong community."

Without the crucial eight votes from the opposition Democratic Party (DP), the government would have been unable to secure a two-thirds majority to get the package through the legislature.

The government did not secure the DP votes until it accepted the opposition party's compromise proposal that called for most of Hong Kong's 3-million-plus registered voters to be allowed to cast ballots for five new seats, to be created in the LegCo's district council functional constituency.

Voters who already have voting rights in other functional constituencies would not be permitted an additional vote for the new district council seats.

DP chairman Albert Ho told reporters after the vote that the passage of the electoral reform package marked a breakthrough in ending political deadlock.

He said that there are different ways to pursue democracy and the party has embarked on a new path by engaging the central government in dialogue.

The Basic Law and the decision by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) in December 2007 provide that the methods of selecting Hong Kong's chief executive and on forming the LegCo in 2012 may be revised in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress.

The central government welcomed the passing of the amendment to the methods for selecting Hong Kong's chief executive and forming the LegCo in 2012, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said on Friday in a statement.

"The central government stands firm on promoting the democratic development of Hong Kong's political system in line with the Basic Law and the decision by the NPC Standing Committee," it said.

The amendment should be submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for approval and receive the consent of Chief Executive Donald Tsang before it takes effect as required by the Basic Law, the statement said.

"It is sincerely hoped that the Hong Kong SAR government, along with all circles of society, will boost economic development, improve people's livelihoods and increase democracy, and make joint efforts to ensure the region's long-term stability and prosperity," it said.

Xinhua contributed to this story.