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Responding to a radio broadcast by Hon Albert Chan earlier today (December 30), a spokesman for the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said:
"Now that the timetable for universal suffrage has been set, the Hong Kong community will expect political parties in Hong Kong to cooperate and work together with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government to ensure that the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council may be elected by universal suffrage respectively in 2017 and 2020.
"In making clear the universal suffrage timetable for the HKSAR, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has given a very sincere and positive response to the aspirations of the people of Hong Kong for early implementation of universal suffrage. It is now up to us in the HKSAR to arrive at a consensus on the electoral models to roll forward democracy in 2012 and to pave the way for universal suffrage to be attained in 2017 and 2020. There is ample room and time for Hong Kong's political parties and the HKSAR Government to build consensus in these respects.
"As responsible political leaders, at this point in time, political parties and Legislative Councillors should promote mutual cooperation rather than a 'non-cooperation movement'. Our community cherishes Hong Kong's stability, prosperity and rule of law. Political parties should assist in safeguarding, rather than disrupting, these attributes of Hong Kong."
Ends/Sunday, December 30, 2007
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