Hong Kong's business tycoons have urged pan-democratic lawmakers to support a universal suffrage plan proposed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government for the region's next leader.
The SAR government is expected to table the universal suffrage package to the SAR's Legislative Council (LegCo) on June 17. The package proposes that a 1,200-member nominating committee selects two to three chief executive candidates before about 5 million Hong Kong voters make their choice through a "one man, one vote" election.
According to the five-step procedure of Hong Kong's constitutional reform, the universal suffrage package needs support from two-thirds of the total 70 LegCo lawmakers to get passed.
Li Ka-shing, chairman of Cheung Kong and Hutchison Whampoa, told the press on Wednesday that all Hong Kongers, including himself, would be losers if the universal suffrage package is voted down, adding that a failed universal suffrage package would lead to an "unwilling and inestimable loss" for all Hong Kong residents.
"Although pan-democratic lawmakers have their ambitions, they should remember they were elected by voters. Hong Kong needs the mainland's support in business and other issues," Li said.
"If the universal suffrage package is vetoed, it will affect not only politics but also people's livelihood," he added.
Li called on pan-democratic lawmakers to reconsider their choice for Hong Kong's welfare, noting that many Hong Kong residents hoped the universal suffrage plan could be passed by the LegCo.
Former chairman of Hong Kong's main developer Wharf Holdings Peter Woo publicized an article on Wednesday's Ta Kung Pao to support the universal suffrage package, calling on "non-radical" lawmakers to "stand on the side of public wisdom" and support the universal suffrage package.
A series of public opinion polls since the beginning of this year has shown that around 60 percent of the Hong Kong residents support the SAR government's universal suffrage package.
Lui Che-woo, chairman of K. Wah Group, published an article on his company's website, saying that the true meaning of democracy is to seek common ground while reserving differences, adding if the process to seek democracy is conducted in a hasty way, Hong Kong's prosperity will be damaged.
Henderson Land's Chairman Lee Shau-kee said on Tuesday that there would be a more harmonious atmosphere inside the LegCo if the package is passed.
Chairman of New World Development Henry Cheng Kar-Shun recently told the press that the election system in Hong Kong can not be compared with those in other countries, as Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China and the chief executive must be appointed by the central government.
He called for all the lawmakers make good use of their votes on the universal suffrage package, so that the 5 million eligible voters in Hong Kong could elect the next chief executive through universal suffrage in 2017.
Founder of Goldlion Group Tsang Hin-chi also said if the pan- democratic lawmakers veto the package, they will suffer from their own actions.
Tsang criticized the pan-democratic lawmakers who threatened to collectively veto the package, adding that democracy should be realized step by step.
