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The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:
The Non-official Members of the Executive Council unanimously express their disappointment with the Legislative Council vetoing today (June 18) the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's motion on amendment to the method for the selection of the Chief Executive.
The proposals on the method for selecting the Chief Executive by universal suffrage put forward by the HKSAR Government are in accordance with the Basic Law and the relevant Interpretation and Decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, constitutionally and legally in order, fair and reasonable. The voting result of the Legislative Council will result in a standstill in the constitutional development of Hong Kong: the fifth-term Chief Executive will continue to be elected by a 1 200-member Election Committee in the year 2017; when the aim of selecting all the Members of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage could be achieved has been rendered uncertain.
Although the motion on amendment to the method for the selection of the Chief Executive has been vetoed, different sectors of the community need to continue to work together on various economic development and livelihood issues in Hong Kong. The Executive Council is confident that the HKSAR Government will, as usual, continue to serve Hong Kong people devotedly and professionally.
Ends/Thursday, June 18, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:45
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