Pan-democrats vow to fight 'more stringent than expected' NPC 2017 poll plan
Central government has moved a step closer to a showdown with pan-democrats after the nation's top legislative body hammered out a tougher-than-expected framework for the 2017 chief executive election.
The central government moved a step closer to a showdown with pan-democrats yesterday after the nation's top legislative body hammered out a tougher-than-expected framework for electing Hong Kong's chief executive by universal suffrage in 2017.
Under an initial decision by the National People's Congress Standing Committee, only two or three candidates would be allowed to stand for the election and they would need 50 per cent support from a 1,200-member nominating committee, two sources said.
Beijing has taken the Hong Kong government’s role to decide the reform proposal
Pan-democrats found the framework unacceptable and vowed to veto the Hong Kong government's reform proposal if it contained the same restrictions when it comes before the Legislative Council.
Some also pledged to join the Occupy Central movement, which plans to mobilise 10,000 people to block roads in the city's financial district if if there is not a "genuine" choice of candidates. The government needs the votes of at least five pan-democrat lawmakers to secure the required two-thirds majority in Legco for its reforms to launch the first "one person, one vote" election for the city's leader.
But the Democratic Party and information-technology sector lawmaker Charles Mok, seen as the main targets of the government's lobbying, said they could not see any room for further negotiation.
"I don't know what else can be discussed in the second round of consultation. Beijing has taken the Hong Kong government's role to decide the reform proposal," Mok said.