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Hong Kong must be allowed to devise its own political system, and in a way that will not cause social disruption or economic chaos, the Chief Executive Mr Donald Tsang said in New York today (October 25, New York time).
Speaking to more than 350 people at a lunch gathering attended by leading financial market and business figures, Mr Tsang said Hong Kong could not simply clone a foreign system onto the existing political structure.
Mr Tsang said Hong Kong needed to take a "building block" approach to political development, and also needed to decide which building blocks were needed.
"Some of the blocks are still missing. For instance, the structure which our legislature should take when we reach universal suffrage has not been devised yet," he said.
"There is the question of the political institutions underpinning a mature system exercising universal suffrage.
"And there is a question of grooming politicians in the process. There will be a lot of debate in this.
"But I would suggest that we should work on all these elements and reach the final destination of universal suffrage as quickly as possible."
Mr Tsang said he would try his best to seek the necessary support from the legislature to pass the political reform package unveiled last week.
"We have been consulting the public on this for nearly two years now. The package we have proposed represents a major advancement in our democratisation," he said.
"It also has the support of a majority of people in Hong Kong, so I'm sure the legislators will focus on it and give it its best vote at the end of the day.
"It is not an easy enterprise, but we have got a good package - a package supported by the people. But I am sure our legislators will act responsibly at the end of the day."
Asked by reporters after the lunch what he would do if some legislators rejected the reform package, Mr Tsang said: "I think the question should be put back to those who are opposing the package.
"Each and every element of the proposal represents an advancement of democracy. None of the elements is a retrograde step, as implied by some legislators.
"The very important thing they have to consider very carefully is that this package is, as I said, supported by the Hong Kong people, devised after extensive consultation in Hong Kong, and also representing a major step forward.
"We will all be disappointed if this package is going to fail. But we on our part will do our very best to lobby each and every legislator to give us their support."
Mr Tsang is now in Washington for a three-day visit, which will include calls on political leaders, business groups and think tanks.
Ends/Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Issued at HKT 12:36
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