Hong Kong Today
今日香港
Eyeing 2022 - more goodwill for resolving constitutional dilemma
放眼二二 政改解困須續釋善意
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The NPC Standing Committee decided on the threshold of requiring a CE universal suffrage candidate to have the support of over half of the nomination committee  . While saying the decision is difficult to change, the government showed goodwill  in the search of a breakout in the constitutional development dilemma by being willing to pledge to Legco that changes can be made for the 2022 CE nomination mechanism.
The government started to release similar information several days ago. The pan-democratic party's initial response was to be "unmoved". But after the NPC Standing Committee's resolution on the CE universal suffrage framework in August, the central government clearly said that the decision must not be shaken. The party could not but face the political reality with some members opting for the second best. They said if the government can pledge a CE universal suffrage mechanism "meeting international standards" in 2022, they will compromise in the 2017 universal suffrage proposal.
Government compromises with pledge to enhance mechanism
But the central government always points out that there is no such thing as "international standards" in universal suffrage and the design of a democracy system must be in compliance with Hong Kong's constitutional status and actual conditions. Especially with the requirement by some who consider civil nomination to be a condition of meeting international standards, the central government will certainly not accept it. Hence the SAR government actually cannot make such a pledge . The "enhancement" pledge made is only a pragmatic compromise .
With respect to the concern by some pan-democrats over the political reform proposal turning from "pocketing" to "ever-lasting", the government has always stressed that the 2017 CE universal suffrage mechanism will not be the ultimate proposal of constitutional development. In this second round of consultation on the method of CE universal suffrage, the government states in Point 5, Marching forward, on its brochure that "We may further enhance the electoral system after implementing universal suffrage for the CE election in 2017."
The government's stance has not changed, but Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam Chi-yuen made more specific interpretation yesterday: the pledge for enhancing the mechanism will be reflected in the future constitutional reform proposal submitted by the government to Legco. In other words, the government will leave room for making gradual appropriate adjustments to the composition of the nomination committee and procedure in 2022 according to the actual situation.
Tam put forward the government's willingness to comply with such conditions, which will help reform proposal earn greater public support and get the bill passed by Legco. A public opinion poll shows that about 50 per cent of the citizens support "pocketing", exceeding those opposing it by over 10 per cent. If the government can pledge the 2022 enhancement proposal, it will win several more percentage points of support from the citizens.
Hope central government's endorsement will win public support
At present, various sectors do not have much hope in the pan-democratic legislators approving the constitutional reform proposal. The pan-democrats will owe an explanation to history and citizens. If the government wants them to change in attitude, the trend of public opinion is a very important factor. It will need overwhelming public support to provide them with a graceful way to bow out.
Recently, the moderate and pragmatic centrists, some of them include pan-democrats, have proposed various enhancements for the mechanism under the NPC's framework on the premise of implementing the 2017 CE universal suffrage so as not to fall short of expectations for a one-person-one-vote CE election. If the government wants to win more public support, it must continue to show more goodwill in constitutional reform.
Moreover, if the enhancement proposal made by the SAR government can be clearly endorsed by the central government, it will help citizens be rid of their concerns and feel that the central government sincerely hopes to have the 2017 CE universal suffrage implemented and is willing to leave room for enhancement, which will bring a way out for the constitutional reform.
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