Speeches

     The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam; the Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Raymond Tam; and the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, today (July 15) held a press conference on the Report by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on whether there is a need to amend the methods for selecting the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2017 and for forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2016 and the Report on the Public Consultation on the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive in 2017 and for Forming the Legislative Council in 2016 at the Auditorium, Ground Floor, Central Government Offices, Tamar. Following are the opening remarks by the Chief Executive at the press conference:

     Now, I will like to recap the gist in English.

     Today, I have made a report to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, NPCSC, to invite the NPCSC to determine that there is a need to amend the method for selecting the Chief Executive, the CE, in 2017 in order to attain the aim of universal suffrage, and that Annex II to the Basic Law should not be amended for the method for forming the Legislative Council, LegCo, in 2016. I have also submitted to the NPCSC the public consultation report on the two electoral methods together with all the appendices to the report compiled by the Task Force on Constitutional Development. The purpose is to reflect comprehensively and truthfully the views received during the consultation period. Both reports are made public in full at the same time.

     Today is a historic moment in the constitutional development of Hong Kong. We will be able to take a big stride forward in the democratic development of Hong Kong if we are willing to forge consensus as much as we can and leave behind our differences in a rational and pragmatic manner on the remaining work. In about two years, over 5 million eligible voters in Hong Kong could directly elect the Chief Executive through "one person, one vote" for the first time in our history.

     We are now working towards a very tight timetable. According to the constitutional procedure laid down in Annex I to the Basic Law, amendments to the method for selecting the CE require passage by a two-thirds majority of all the Members of the LegCo, CE's consent, and approval by the NPCSC. The report made by me today represents the first step in kick-starting the constitutional procedures. If the NPCSC makes a determination in August, we expect that another round of public consultation will be launched around the end of this year to collect views on specific proposals on implementing universal suffrage for the CE election in 2017.

     After the conclusion of the public consultation, a number of groups and members of the public still expressed their wishes and aspirations concerning the implementation of universal suffrage for the CE election in 2017 through different ways and channels. In particular, regarding the issue of the nominating procedures, there were considerable views expressed after the consultation period through participation in rally and polling activities held by civic organisations on allowing "civic nomination" in the nomination of CE candidates, etc. At the same time, I sincerely hope that the general public would appreciate that while we should consider different demands, we have to uphold the rule of law and act according to the law. In this respect, we could implement universal suffrage only if we comply with the Basic Law and the relevant Interpretation and Decisions of the NPCSC.

     Thank you.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the opening remarks.)
Ends/Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Opening remarks by CE at press conference on release of constitutional development public consultation reports (1)

The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung (centre); the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam (second left); the Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC (second right); the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Raymond Tam (first left); and the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah (first right), hold a press conference on release of constitutional development public consultation reports at Central Government Offices this afternoon (July 15).

Opening remarks by CE at press conference on release of constitutional development public consultation reports (2)

Mr Leung speaks at the press conference.

Opening remarks by CE at press conference on release of constitutional development public consultation reports (3)

Mrs Lam (left) speaks at the press conference.

Opening remarks by CE at press conference on release of constitutional development public consultation reports (4)

Mr Leung (second right) responses to a question at the press conference.

Opening remarks by CE at press conference on release of constitutional development public consultation reports (5)

Mr Leung (third right) responses to a question at the press conference.