HK tensions continue to simmer

On July 15, two important political reports on Hong Kong were released. The Task Force on Constitutional Development (TFCD) of the Hong Kong SAR Government disclosed a report on public consultation on the methods for the chief executive election in 2017 and the Legislative Council (LegCo) election in 2016. At the same time, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying submitted a report to the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC). It asks the NPCSC to consider whether it needs to amend the methods for selecting the chief executive in 2017 in order to attain universal suffrage. It also states that Annex II of the Basic Law should not be amended in regard to the method for forming the Legislative Council in 2016.

Leung told the press conference: "(It) is a historic moment in the constitutional development of Hong Kong." However, he added: "We will be able to take a big step forward in the democratic development of Hong Kong if we are willing to forge consensus as much as we can and leave behind our differences in a rational and pragmatic manner."

Frankly speaking, the city's political atmosphere isn't conducive to developing consensus on universal suffrage. Since last spring the opposition camp has tried a number of tactics, including its threat to launch the "Occupy Central" campaign, to compel the central government and SAR government to accept their demands for so-called "genuine universal suffrage". This is ultimately aimed at changing Hong Kong from a SAR of China into an independent political entity.