HKU pollster calls for reform proposals to be put to a public vote

The University of Hong Kong's chief pollster has suggested the government hold a vote to gauge public views after it releases its reform proposal next month.

If a two-thirds majority vote in favour of the proposal for the 2017 chief executive election, the pan-democrats should no longer insist on voting down the package, the pollster said.

Dr Robert Chung Ting-yiu, director of HKU's Public Opinion Programme, told the media yesterday he would submit his view to the government before the consultation on reform closes this Saturday.

"The two-thirds majority - not a lower threshold - is important because this is the requirement laid down in the Basic Law for the legislature to pass any political reform," Chung said.

"If two-thirds of the voters say they want to pass the package, the pan-democrats should respect the results and not insist on a veto," he added.

Chung's comments came after Raymond Tam Chi-yuen, secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs, said last month the government "would not rule out" commissioning a large-scale survey after its proposal was out.