HONG KONG: Chief Executive Donald Tsang Friday urged legislators mulling resignation over the government's electoral arrangements to heed public aspirations and interest.

"If it (resignation) happened, the government would follow the established procedure and hold by-elections," Tsang said in response to news reports that some opposition lawmakers are contemplating resignation in protest over the government-proposed election methods regarding the 2012 Chief Executive and Legislative Council elections.

The government is sincere and open-minded in exchange of views with different sectors of society, Tsang said, expressing his hope that legislators would come up with suggestions in a calm and rational manner.

Lawmakers are voted into the legislature through solemn elections and therefore should take into full consideration public aspirations and interest, he said.

The government Tuesday unveiled a consultation paper on the electoral arrangements for the 2010 elections, a package which Tsang described as "more democratic and progressive" than the one the government put forward in 2005.

The latest reform package sought to expand the legislature by 10 seats - five directly from geographical constituencies and five from District Councils - and to block appointed DC members from voting for the District Council seats.

The blueprint also proposed to increase the size of the Election Committee that selects the Chief Executive in 2012 from 800 to 1,200.

China Daily

(HK Edition 11/21/2009 page1)