The last governor of Hong Kong under British rule, Chris Patten, wrote that it’s time for a “sensible endgame” to the city’s pro-democracy protests, and that the government has more wiggle room than they have suggested.
Patten said CY Leung should write a new report to Beijing on Hong Kong people’s opinions on constitutional development, as his first one “plainly understated” the amount of public support for universal suffrage.
The former governor also claimed that Hong Kong’s functional constituencies – which represent professional and special interest groups in the government – should be abolished as they can put a “brake” on legislation.
Instead, Patten suggests that LegCo decisions be made by a simple majority.
He said the current proposed electoral system for 2017, in which Beijing could veto any candidate, was effectively an “Iranian-style election”.
Patten, however, stops short of suggesting civil nomination for candidates for the chief executive election as is requested by the Umbrella Movement, and says that the government could “broaden the electoral base” of the nomination committee to make the elections more “open and fair”.
Patten has been an outspoken advocate for democracy in Hong Kong.
Photo: James Yuanxin Li via Wikimedia
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