Bishop Zen questions Tung's nine principles
The movement towards full democracy would be hindered by principles set down in the chief executive's report to Beijing over constitutional reform, the head of the Catholic Church in Hong Kong said yesterday.
Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun made the comment as a former top colonial official repeated his call for calm in the democratic reform process, saying the political system should not be used for conducting experiments.
Speaking after a church forum on the religious situation on the mainland, Bishop Zen said Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's report to Beijing last week - which set out nine principles to guide electoral reform - would affect democratic development.
'It is obvious that these ... elements [will limit] the future discussions [on reform],' Bishop Zen said.
'I don't think that they should attach these conditions now. The report is supposed to tell the central government that there is a need for change ... but these [principles] limit the discussion on how we can change.'
Mr Tung's report recommended changes in the electoral methods for the 2007 chief executive and 2008 Legislative Council elections. But it set out principles saying the system should not be changed too quickly, and that any changes should preserve balanced participation in politics by various elements of society.
Critics said these principles effectively ruled out the introduction of universal suffrage by 2007. Further, they dashed hopes that trade-based functional constituencies in Legco would be scrapped in favour of directly elected seats.
Meanwhile, former chief secretary Sir David Akers-Jones said Hong Kong could not afford the luxury of trying 'experiments' in constitutional reform.
'There is too much at stake. Nor do we have the luxury of messing about with political experiments which might have direct consequences for China as a whole,' he told RTHK's Letter to Hong Kong.
He said the electoral base of the 800-member Election Committee responsible for choosing the next chief executive should be made more representative. Further, he suggested a transition period before scrapping the functional representatives.
Democratic Party chairman Yeung Sum said Sir David had neglected the strong public demand for universal suffrage.
