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In respect of the Consultation Document on the Method for Selecting the Chief Executive by Universal Suffrage published by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (January 7) to commence the two-month second-round public consultation on the method for selecting the Chief Executive by universal suffrage in 2017, the Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, issued the following statement:
It is the common aspiration of the Central Authorities, the HKSAR Government and the public at large to implement universal suffrage for selecting the Chief Executive by "one person, one vote". The Government urges all sectors of the community, including all members of the Legislative Council (LegCo), irrespective of their political affiliations, to join hands to implement universal suffrage.
To achieve genuine universal suffrage we must follow the law. To implement universal suffrage for the election of the Chief Executive, we must strictly comply with the Basic Law and the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) adopted on August 31, 2014. I hope that the community would actively express views and engage in rational and pragmatic discussions within the framework of the Basic Law and the Decision of the NPCSC.
All views must be expressed in a lawful manner. The illegal occupation over the past few months did nothing to take forward universal suffrage. Instead, it has undermined the rule of law, which is the cornerstone of Hong Kong's success and what the Hong Kong people are proud of. It has also seriously torn apart the community and divided the Hong Kong people. I hope that this round of public consultation on the method for selecting the Chief Executive by universal suffrage could be conducted in a peaceful and rational manner under the spirit of mutual understanding and compromise.
I noted that some members of the LegCo have said they would boycott the consultation and vote down any proposal on universal suffrage submitted by the Government. Clearly, it is better to have universal suffrage than not, and moving forward is always better than standing still. I, therefore, urge those members of the LegCo not to hastily deprive the 5 million eligible voters of their opportunity to select the Chief Executive by universal suffrage.
The Government will do its utmost to achieve selection of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage in 2017, so that 5 million eligible voters could select the Chief Executive by "one person, one vote" from 2017 onward.
Ends/Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:58
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