Moderate pan-democrat can still run for chief executive, Rita Fan says
Beijing loyalist urges city to accept limited electoral reform, and says some moderate pan-democrats may contest chief executive poll
Pan-democrats "who are not on the front line" could still have a chance of being accepted to run in the next chief executive election, Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai says.
Fan, the city's sole member of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, is the latest pro-Beijing figure to urge the pan-democrats to accept Beijing's limited model for universal suffrage for the 2017 poll.
"As Beijing officials have recognised, some pan-democrats love the country and love Hong Kong. We don't find all of them unacceptable [as candidates]," Fan said yesterday.
"Look back over the years - did you take up any public service? Is there anything you've done that will help win you the trust of the society? I believe there are [such people].
"They may not be on the front line. They may not be leaders of the pan-democratic parties. The question is whether they will come forward."
There has been speculation transport and housing minister Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, who quit the Democratic Party, is one such moderate who would be palatable to Beijing. Cheung is no longer seen by the pan-democrats as an ally.
The Standing Committee last Sunday voted unanimously in favour of an electoral reform model that requires candidates to have majority support from a 1,200-strong nominating committee before the public vote.