Support for reform plan overwhelming

At a press conference on Monday, the Alliance for Peace and Democracy - the organizer of a massive petition which lasted nine days - said over 1.21 million people had signed in support of the Hong Kong SAR Government's constitutional reform package. The simple fact that more than 20 percent of eligible voters, or a seventh of the city's populace signed their names, speaks volumes about Hong Kong society's aspirations regarding universal suffrage. It sends a crystal-clear message that the overwhelming majority of Hong Kong people don't want their voting rights deprived by a tiny minority of opposition lawmakers.

The unmistakable message serves as an indication of a widening support base for the government's reform proposals unveiled last month. Also, it should be viewed as a strong sign of the opposition camp's shrinking popularity. Obviously, it is fighting a losing battle in winning the hearts and minds of Hong Kong people.

So far, all 27 opposition lawmakers still refuse to change their rigid stance by vowing to veto the proposals. Indeed, it is never easy to grasp their skewed logic of rejection. A case in point is that they often clamor about the package being "unfair, unjust and unconstitutional" and can't offer voters "genuine" choices of 2017 Chief Executive candidates. But the truth is that, by strictly adhering to the five-step constitutional reform process and solidly based on two-round citywide public consultations over seven months, the electoral arrangements submitted to the Legislative Council are tailor-made to suit Hong Kong's actual situation.