Xinhua News Agency today quoted an unnamed official from the
central government's Liaison Office in Hong Kong as expressing
support for a speech made by the special administrative region's
Chief Executive Donald Tsang after its Legislative Council rejected
proposals for constitutional reform.
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"The constitutional reform proposals have won the support of a
large percentage of Hong Kong citizens as shown by various polls,"
the official said, and though it secured the votes of over half the
legislators it failed to gain the two-thirds majority
required.
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"The voting results do not accord with the mainstream of Hong Kong
people's opinion and are what we all do not want to see," he
said.
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"We hope and believe that Hong Kong people from all walks of life
will continue to support the Chief Executive and HKSAR government
in their governance according to law, so as to maintain Hong Kong's
current hard-earned good situation, promote stability and
prosperity of Hong Kong, and create conditions for finally
achieving the goal of universal suffrage," he said.
Two motions on proposed amendments to the Method for Selecting
the Chief Executive in 2007 and the Method for Forming the
Legislative Council in 2008, supported by the SAR and central
governments, were submitted to the Legislative Council on
Wednesday.
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Xinhua said that, according to the Basic Law and the National
People's Congress Standing Committee's interpretations and
decisions, no amendment will now be made to selection methods for
2007 or 2008, and existing provisions will continue to be
applicable.
Related: HK Gov't
Constitutional Change Motions Voted Down
(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2005)