Some senior Chinese cadres oppose universal suffrage for Hong Kong, says source
Some senior cadres believe it would be wrong to grant Hong Kong universal suffrage unless strict restrictions are imposed and say decision to allow “one man, one vote” in 2017 was unwise.
Some senior mainland cadres believe it would be wrong to grant Hong Kong universal suffrage unless tight restrictions are imposed and that the decision in 2007 to allow "one man, one vote" in 2017 was unwise, a local source familiar with Beijing's policies on Hong Kong says.
The source also told the yesterday that many cadres would be pleased to see Hong Kong lawmakers veto reforms for the 2017 chief executive election.
The source said the need to appease wary cadres was the reason the National People's Congress Standing Committee set a tight framework for reform, including limiting the number of candidates and demanding that they win majority support from a nominating committee.
Article 45 of the Basic Law states that electing the city's leader by universal suffrage is the "ultimate aim", but sets no date and says "the principle of gradual and orderly progress" should apply, taking into account "the actual situation in Hong Kong". The Standing Committee ruled in 2007 that universal suffrage could be implemented in 2017.
But the source said: "Some senior mainland officials do not want to see universal suffrage introduced in Hong Kong at all.
"They believe that the central government leadership's decision in 2007 … was unwise and not well thought-out.
