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HK opposition reject election reform package
By Teddy Ng (皇冠体育app Daily HK Edition/Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-22 08:35 Voting down the motion would be harmful to the implementation of universal
suffrage, he said. Citing the examples of several opinion polls and the more
than 775,000 signatures collected by a coalition of politicians and trade
unionists, he said the public wanted the package to be passed.
"One of the responsibilities of politicians is to respect public opinion, not
act against it," he said.
Opposition lacks sincerity
Democratic Alliance for Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) legislator
Jasper Tsang criticized the opposition camp for its lack of sincerity in
reaching a consensus.
"The SAR government, central government and the public wanted the reform
proposal to be endorsed. But the opposition camp wanted to start all over again.
I wonder whether they are sincere about reaching a consensus," he said.
DAB Chairman Ma Lik regretted the opposition camp's decision, for "it would
certainly hurt the feelings of those who cared about democratic development in
Hong Kong".
He said the decision would affect the communication between the central
government and the opposition camp, too.
'Anti-democracy camp'
DAB Vice-Chairman Tam Yiu-chung said, "since the opposition camp had ignored
public opinion, it should henceforth be called the 'anti-democracy' camp".
Liberal Party Vice-Chairman Selina Chow said "universal suffrage was a
complicated issue that could not be tackled by merely chanting opposition
slogans".
Banking sector legislator and EC member David Li felt the proposals could
have changed Hong Kong's political atmosphere because all DC members would have
been part of the group selecting the CE. That, in turn, would have encouraged
more talented people to take part in politics.
Insurance sector legislator Bernard Chan, who is also an EC member, said that
by rejecting the package would not benefit Hong Kong.
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