Hong Kong’s Electoral Systems on Right Course

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam, told a public forum in November that he is confident Hong Kong will rise to the challenge of setting its electoral systems on the right course beyond 2007.

Mr Lam said that the Basic Law laid down a blueprint for constitutional development in the first 10 years after reunification. Beyond 2007, it provided that the ultimate aim was to elect the Hong Kong Chief Executive and all members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council by universal suffrage.

He dispelled the myth that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government did not want any change to be made to the electoral systems beyond 2007. “We must continue to roll forward electoral reforms and to press ahead,” he said.

Mr Lam dispelled another myth about voter apathy, saying that current voter registration stands at 66%, which shows that Hong Kong people care about Hong Kong’s public affairs. 

A third myth is that Hong Kong’s political parties have only a limited role to play. Mr Lam described it as a “chicken and egg” situation, saying, “I believe, if we can make more room available both for political parties and independent candidates to take part in electoral politics, they will have a larger role to play in Hong Kong’s public affairs and political development in the long run.”

Speaking at another seminar in December, Mr Lam said: “Under ‘One Country, Two Systems’, the Basic Law has authorized the HKSAR to exercise a high degree of autonomy but not complete self-rule.”

He said that the review on constitutional development beyond 2007 had to be dealt with in accordance with the procedures laid down in Annexes I and II of the Basic Law, i.e. any proposals put forth required the endorsement of a two-thirds majority of all members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council and the consent of the Hong Kong Chief Executive, and had to be reported to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for approval or for the record.

The HKSAR Government will make full use of the next three years to carry out the review, he said. 

“We will start listening to and collecting public views in early 2004. We will deal with the procedures under the Basic Law as necessary in 2005 and deal with local legislation as necessary in 2006,” Mr Lam added.

Hong Kong is a pluralistic society, and certainly different views have emerged in respect of the pace of constitutional development. “We need to make a collective effort to narrow our mutual differences, widen the common ground and build consensus within the community,” he said. 

Mr Lam concluded that in dealing with the subject of constitutional development, the HKSAR Government would adopt an open and receptive attitude.

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