Press Releases

     The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam, attended a forum organised by the Alliance for Constitutional Development this (January 9) afternoon to listen to views on the methods for selecting the Chief Executive and for forming the Legislative Council in 2012. Following is the transcript of his remarks to the media following the public consultation session:

     I warmly welcome the formation of this Alliance to progress and to roll forward Hong Kong's constitutional development. It is of utmost importance that for 2012 we roll forward democracy and do not allow Hong Kong's electoral systems to come to a standstill. In the course of the last month and a half, I have been to many District Council and Legislative Council meetings, I have consulted different bodies and have attended many sessions, it is clear that Hong Kong community as a whole would wish to see that we make progress on constitutional development in 2012. Even though certain political parties and members of the legislature may not consider the proposals that we have put forth for 2012 to be ideal, there is actually no contradiction for any political party or Legislative Council Members to support the 2012 package and thereafter to continue to press for the ideal universal suffrage methods for returning the Chief Executive in 2017 and for the Legislative Council in 2020.

     It is important that we make progress in 2012 so that we bring ourselves closer to the final destination of universal suffrage. On that I also wish to emphasise a few points today. Following remarks made by Miss Elsie Leung earlier on and Professor Albert Chen today, certain members of the media have asked me whether it is certain that Hong Kong can implement universal suffrage in 2017 for the Chief Executive and in 2020 for the Legislative Council. On this I emphasise three points:

     Firstly, the Decision made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on the universal suffrage timetable in 2007 is clear, is firm, is constitutional. This is what Secretary-General Qiao (Xiaoyang) said when he visited Hong Kong in December 2007.

     Secondly, I would also like to emphasise that in deciding on the universal suffrage timetable, the Central Authorities have already given a full greenlight for Hong Kong to proceed towards universal suffrage. What the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has done is to leave all the necessary room for us in Hong Kong to generate consensus on the election model for implementing universal suffrage. This is part of the Basic Law and this is also part of the high degree of autonomy which has been given to Hong Kong under the Basic Law. It is for the SAR Government to put forward a proposal for electoral reform and it is for the legislature to vote in support through two-thirds majority.

     Therefore, thirdly, it is very clear that the Decision made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in 2007 is entirely consistent with the Basic Law and fully respects Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Saturday, January 9, 2010

SCMA attends forum organised by Alliance for Constitutional Development (1)

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam, attended a forum organised by the Alliance for Constitutional Development this (January 9) afternoon to listen to views on the methods for selecting the Chief Executive and for forming the Legislative Council in 2012. Photo shows Mr Lam pictured at the forum.

SCMA attends forum organised by Alliance for Constitutional Development (2)

Photo shows Mr Lam speaking at the forum.