Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (C), chief secretary for administration of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen (L), Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam, shows the Consultation Report and Proposals on Method for Selecting the Chief Executive by Universal Suffrage in Hong Kong, south China, April 22, 2015.(Xinhua/He Jingjia)
The Hong Kong government on Wednesday revealed a detailed plan for the 2017 election of the Special Administrative Region (SAR)'s next leader by universal suffrage, drawing support from the central government and a majority of residents.
Candidates for the next HKSAR chief executive will be picked by a 1,200-member nominating committee from four social sectors consisting of 38 sub-sectors, which is similar to the election committee for the current chief executive in 2012, said Carrie Lam, chief secretary for administration of HKSAR, who delivered the plan to lawmakers at the SAR's Legislative Council (LegCo).
Lam described the first ever universal suffrage in Hong Kong history as "not only a great leap forward for Hong Kong's constitutional development, but also a historic moment for our country."
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said on Wednesday that it is an "important milestone for Hong Kong's democratic development" and he hopes Hong Kong society, including LegCo members, could support the plan.
The State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said in a statement later that the constitutional reform package is "legal, feasible, rational and practical."
The plan not only conforms to the Basic Law and the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), but also suits the region's reality and takes account of the interests of all walks of Hong Kong society, the statement said.
The central government consistently supports efforts to advance democratic development in Hong Kong in a progressive manner and in accordance with the Basic Law and the decision of the NPC Standing Committee, it said.
"Constitutional development in Hong Kong has entered a crucial stage and we sincerely hope that all parties in the region can build consensus and grasp the historic opportunity to realize the goal for a universal suffrage election in 2017," the statement said.
