Hong Kong faces resistance
Tweaks to election overhaul package provoke new protests
HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s government unveiled proposals Wednesday to overhaul elections, setting the stage for another round of confrontation with pro-democracy activists and lawmakers opposed to Beijing-mandated restrictions on candidates for the city’s top job.
The long-expected overhaul package made some tweaks but gave little ground to pro-democracy leaders, whose rejection of the government’s initial proposal last year sparked protests that saw key streets in the city occupied for nearly three months and violent clashes with riot police. Nearly 1,000 people were arrested during what was called the Occupy Central protest movement that marked the city’s most tumultuous period since China took control of the territory from Britain in 1997.
The package, which needs the city legislature’s approval before it breaks for summer in July, could fail to obtain the necessary two-thirds majority, or 47 out of 70 seats, to pass. With pro-democracy lawmakers controlling 27 seats, the government is hoping it can persuade four members to switch sides.
Outlining the package’s details to lawmakers, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam said that under the government’s proposals, the city’s 5 million eligible voters could choose from up to three candidates in 2017.
But she said the power to select candidates would remain in the hands of a 1,200-member group of tycoons and other elites viewed as sympathetic to the mainland Chinese government. Ms. Lam said the overhaul would allow for up to 10 nominees to be shortlisted by the panel, which would then winnow the number down to three candidates through a secret ballot.
That’s in line with a blueprint Beijing issued last Aug. 31 limiting the number of candidates and ruling out open nominations. Pro-democracy leaders blasted the restrictions as “fake democracy.”
“The proposal allows a ‘small circle’ to control the election result by controlling the nomination process. Hong Kong will become an election machine,” said lawmaker Alan Leong, vowing that the pro-democracy camp would reject it.
He was one of about two dozen opposition lawmakers, most wearing yellow Xs on black shirts and some holding yellow umbrellas — a symbol of the protest movement — who walked out of the legislative chamber after Ms. Lam’s speech.
There were some minor scuffles outside the legislature as pro-democracy protesters faced off against pro-Beijing demonstrators waving red Chinese flags.
Speaking beforehand, the city’s deeply unpopular leader, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, said the government would not give any ground to pro-democracy groups’ demands.