Hong Kong government set to reveal election roadmap

Protesters unfurl a banner for “real universal suffrage” on Oct. 28, 2014, exactly a month after police fired tear gas on demonstrators. (Photo: Laurel Chor/Coconuts Media)

Hong Kong’s government is expected today to reveal its final framework for controversial leadership elections, predicted to stick to tight restrictions from Beijing which sparked last year’s mass protests.

Last August, China decided that candidates for the city’s chief executive should be nominated by a loyalist committee, ahead of a public vote.

Hong Kong’s number-two official Carrie Lam will present the final proposed roadmap for how the 2017 leadership election is to be held to the legislature this morning, lawmakers told AFP.

Lam and city leader Leung Chun-ying scheduled a press briefing at 10am. 

Local media splashed the anticipated announcement across their front pages Wednesday, with the SCMP calling it “D-day for Hong Kong”.

The 2017 election is set to be the first-ever public vote for the city’s leader – currently the chief executive is selected by a 1,200-strong committee stacked with pro-Beijing loyalists.

Activists have branded any election that adheres to Beijing’s framework – universal suffrage based on pre-selected candidates – “fake democracy”.

However, Hong Kong’s leadership has consistently said that it cannot deviate from the ruling last August by China’s National People’s Congress.

Analysts say Wednesday’s proposal will not challenge those restrictions.

“It’s likely to be disappointing for those who would like a genuine democracy in Hong Kong because it’s very likely to follow strictly the NPC Standing Committee decision,” said Surya Deva, an associate professor at the City University of Hong Kong’s law department.

The proposal will be voted on by legislators in the coming months, with pro-democracy lawmakers vowing to block it.

“The government will try their best to get the support of all lawmakers, especially the pro-democracy lawmakers,” Carrie Lam said Tuesday.

“We will persevere until the final minute.”

Words: AFP