Chief Secretary Carrie Lam has urged pan-democrats to support the political reform resolution that is due to be submitted to the Legislative Council later this week.
In a column that was published in a number of major newspapers, Lam states that the “long held aspiration” of electing the next chief executive via “one person, one vote” now depends on the pan-democratic legislators. Lam says that even though “the pan-democratic legislators sit opposite government officials [in the Legislative Council Chamber]…it does not follow that we always take an opposite stance.”
Lam describes any constitutional development of Hong Kong that is not based on the Basic Law or the decisions of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee is like “building a castle in the sky” and has no foundation. Lam says it is “worrying” that political parties and groups still reject the constitutional basis of the political reforms.
Lam rebukes a number of reasons for vetoing the resolution, stating that the resolution will not remain forever, and the reports submitted by the Hong Kong government to the NPCSC in July last year accurately reflected the views received.
The chief secretary adds that the “public opinion on the matter is clear,” and that the pan-democratic legislators should weigh the consequences and support the resolution.
The controversial political reform resolution is due to be submitted to LegCo on Wednesday and due to be voted upon by the end of the week.
