Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang delivers opening remarks yesterday at the forum for Heung Yee Kuk on methods for selecting the Chief Executive and for forming the Legislative Council in 2012. GIS

Lack of self-control may raise Beijing doubts about HK: Cheng

HONG KONG: Director of Central Government's Liaison Office in Hong Kong Peng Qinghua has responded to a January 1 assault on the office, by cautioning political activists to express their views in a rational and peaceful manner.

The assault on the liaison office came at the conclusion of a universal suffrage protest on New Year's Day.

On a separate occasion, Cheng Yiu-tong, a deputy to the National People's Congress, said such radical behavior surely would shock and anger Beijing, causing authorities to reconsider whether the people of Hong Kong possess the self-control to move forward with political development.

After attending a public function, Peng was asked to comment on the behavior of the petitioners. He replied in the first place that the authorities respect the rights of people to express their views and air their demands.

"We hope the manner of their expression is rational and peaceful. If (they) pursue drastic measures in the course of their expression, they will not live up to the expectation of the citizens," Peng commented.

"So we hope in future, Hong Kong society will discuss important political, social and livelihood issues in a rational manner," he said.

Constitutional development, Cheng said, is a matter that must be discussed with Beijing and the people of Hong Kong show Beijing that they possess the capacity and intelligence to enter into rational discussion.

"But if (those in the opposition camp) continue to take radical action, they will hamper the SAR government's submission to the central government," Cheng said. "Will Beijing believe you have the ability (to proceed with universal suffrage) when you don't even have the power of self-control? I am afraid that will not be conducive to constitutional development in Hong Kong."

Cheng's remarks came as the newly formed Alliance for Constitutional Development announced its program in support of political reform. The alliance was formed last month for the purpose of moving forward with the political development agenda. The organization's program is intended to help people understand proposed reforms for the 2012 elections.

Speaking to a press conference yesterday, Cheng Yiu-tong, convener of the alliance and a member of the Executive Council, said the group membership consists of 154 individuals and 44 associations.

The discussion on the constitutional development consultation paper that the government released in November has gone into doldrums owing to the holiday season, he noted.

He also admitted that because of the overwhelming media coverage of the planned collective resignation of opposition legislators, discussion of the electoral reform proposal has been sidetracked.

To get the matter back on the right track and secure media attention, the alliance will run a series of activities, including the publication of a manifesto in several newspapers tomorrow to promote extensive discussion of the 2012 electoral proposals.

"We hope constitutional development will not stand still again. But we can reach the final destination of 'universal suffrage' only if we start the 'Constitutional Development Express'," Cheng said.

The alliance will also organize a forum on Saturday. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam has been invited to attend to exchange views with alliance members. On January 24, another forum will be held, at which representatives from the academic, business and professional sectors will exchange views on various electoral approaches.

To encourage public support, the alliance will launch a street campaign to collect signatures of citizens who support democratic progress in Hong Kong. Signatures will be gathered at more than 400 points in the city. The campaign will commence on Saturday and will last for about two weeks.

(HK Edition 01/07/2010 page1)