Academic offers compromise
A leading pro-democracy academic yesterday outlined a compromise proposal in an attempt to address the concerns of Beijing, and Hong Kong's business sector, over constitutional reform.
Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, the chairman of the think-tank SynergyNet, said he still hoped to democratise the elections of the chief executive in 2007 and the Legislative Council in 2008.
As debate on constitutional reform intensified with the visit of two mainland legal experts, Professor Cheung said the fact Beijing had not refused to discuss the issue showed hope existed for the early introduction of universal suffrage.
In his policy paper, to be distributed to different parties including the government, the City University academic proposed that the 60-seat Legco be expanded by 30 seats, manned by functional constituencies.
According to his blueprint, the legislature would comprise 30 members elected from single-seat districts, for closer links with residents; 30 from larger regions elected by proportional representation; and 30 nominated by businesspeople and professionals and endorsed by the general public.
Professor Cheung said this was a 'compromise' proposal to address concerns raised by business groups afraid of losing their influence in the legislature. Companies, business chambers and professionals form half of the present Legco and can block bills and motions by their directly elected counterparts.
As for the executive branch of the government, Professor Cheung said the present 800-member Election Committee should be expanded to 1,200 members elected from four broad sectors representing business, the middle class, the working class and politicians.
Candidates for chief executive could be nominated by 500 voters among the general public and be endorsed to run in the election by 100 members of the new 'nominating committee'. The shortlisted candidates would then be elected by universal suffrage.
'What is important is to achieve peace of mind on both sides, where the people in Hong Kong believe the government is accountable and the central government does not fear instability,' Professor Cheung said.
