Home>News Center>China
       
 

NPC rules out universal suffrage for HK
By Gang Bian (China Daily HK Edition)
Updated: 2004-04-27 10:14

China's top legislature Monday ruled out direct elections for the Hong Kong chief executive in 2007 and legislators in 2008, citing immature conditions.


The voting result is shown on a big screen. [Xinhua]

"Universal suffrage shall not apply to the election of the third-term chief executive of the HKSAR in 2007, nor to the election of all members of the fourth-term Legislative Council (LegCo) of the HKSAR in 2008," noted the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC).

However, the NPCSC favours modification of the existing electoral methods.

Specific methods for selecting the chief executive in 2007 and forming the Legislative Council in 2008 could be "appropriately modified" in the principle of "gradual and orderly progress" and in accordance with the Basic Law, it said.

The ruling was passed at Monday's meeting with 156 for, one abstention and no negative votes.

The NPCSC made the decision after concluding a two-day meeting to discuss Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's report on the need for electoral changes in Hong Kong.

The ruling "is in the overall and long-term interest of Hong Kong society and conducive to the maintenance of its long-term prosperity and stability," said Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPCSC.

According to the decision, the half-by-half ratio for LegCo members from functional constituencies and from geographical constituencies - returned through direct elections - shall remain unchanged. The procedures for voting on bills and motions in the Legislative Council shall also remain unchanged.

In explaining its decision, the NPCSC noted that the democratic process in Hong Kong is not long. It has been no more than seven years since Hong Kong residents have exercised the democratic right of participating in selection of the chief executive.

Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the number of directly-elected LegCo members has increased remarkably. Half the members will be directly elected in the forthcoming LegCo election in September.

Yet the influence of the directly-elected LegCo members upon Hong Kong society, especially upon the executive-led mechanism, is yet to be tested, the decision said.

Moreover, various social circles in Hong Kong currently still have considerable differences about changes for the electoral methods, and no broad consensus has been reached yet.

Under such circumstances, conditions do not satisfy the general elections of the chief executive and all LegCo members, the decision said.

But the top legislature stressed that it is the consistent stance of the central authorities to develop democracy in Hong Kong based on the principle of gradual and orderly progress, in the light of the HKSAR's specific conditions, and in accordance with the Basic Law.


Deputy Secretary-General of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Qiao Xiaoyang (left) meets with people of Hong Kong and explain the decision by China's top legislative body. [newsphoto]

The final goal will be reached, as provided for by the Basic Law, that the chief executive and the LegCo will be elected through universal suffrage, the decision noted.

In a speech upon adoption of the ruling, Wu said that it demonstrates the great importance and concern that the central authorities attach to Hong Kong's constitutional development.

He stressed that the central authorities have been "very prudent" in handling the issue, noting that "every step taken has rigorously accorded with provisions and procedures stipulated by the law".

The People's Daily yesterday hailed the NPC decision in a commentary, saying it would put an end to disputes surrounding constitutional development, help to reach a consensus among Hong Kong society on electoral changes, and safeguard the overall interests and well-being of Hong Kong people.

"The NPC decision is an important legal document with legal validity. It must be implemented in real earnest," it said.

 
  Today's Top News     Top China News
 

NPC rules out universal suffrage for HK

 

   
 

Institute isolated for suspected lab infection

 

   
 

Zeng: Hegemony never on nation's agenda

 

   
 

Testimony: Japanese war chemicals did harm

 

   
 

300 infected with measles in Sichuan

 

   
 

Lottery row sends man from heaven to hell

 

   
  No new SARS cases reported in past 24 hours
   
  NPC rules out universal suffrage for HK
   
  Testimony: Japanese war chemicals did harm
   
  Zeng: Hegemony never on nation's agenda
   
  300 infected with measles in Sichuan
   
  Agencies nab organized counterfeiters
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  News Talk  
  An American apolgy to the family of Chinese pilot  
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 国产乱子伦精品视频| 看黄软件免费看在线观看| 国内精品久久人妻互换| 亚洲人成网男女大片在线播放| 高贵的你韩剧免费观看国语版| 收集最新中文国产中文字幕| 亚洲一区二区三区精品视频| 美女被网站大全在线视频| 97精品人妻系列无码人妻| 尹人香蕉网在线观看视频| 亚洲国产91在线| 涩涩高清无乱码在线观看| 办公室娇喘的短裙老师在线视频| 色老板在线视频一区二区| 成人国产精品视频频| 久久久精品人妻一区二区三区| 欧美jizz18性欧美| 午夜剧场1000| 国产浮力影院第一页| 无码日韩精品一区二区免费 | 日本zzzzwww大片免费| 亚洲美女色在线欧洲美女| 香蕉视频在线观看网站| 大量精子注入波多野结衣| 一本色道久久88亚洲综合| 欧美成人18性| 啄木乌欧美一区二区三区| 视频二区三区国产情侣在线| 国产成人亚洲综合在线| 色噜噜视频影院| 天美麻豆蜜桃91制片厂| 久久免费小视频| 水蜜桃亚洲一二三四在线| 伊人色综合一区二区三区| 精品久久久久久久无码| 国产成人在线网址| 日本按摩xxxxx高清| 欧美特黄录像播放| 在线观看老湿视频福利| 久久婷婷五月综合97色一本一本 | 人妻在线日韩免费视频|