Long Hair unveils bill to allow a referendum
A bill to bring about referendums on issues of public importance was unveiled by legislator 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung yesterday.
Mr Leung broke from his usual confrontational stance and said the mechanism he was proposing would not result in calls for Hong Kong independence, as all issues put to a referendum must not contravene the Basic Law.
'Referendums are a very important mechanism for society, both before and after the government makes policy decisions. They are not limited to universal suffrage, as all important questions, such as the Link [real estate investment trust] and West Kowloon [cultural development], can also be decided by the public,' Mr Leung said.
'The difference between Taiwan and Hong Kong is that Taiwan wants to claim independence, while Hong Kong does not. This is why referendums are more suitable for the people of Hong Kong.'
But the chances of Mr Leung's bill being tabled in Legco are slim, as the permission of Legco president Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai and Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa would be needed before it could proceed.
The Basic Law states no private member's bill should have an effect on established government policies or the constitutional system, except when approved by the government.
Mr Leung said his bill was designed to give a legal basis to the pro-democracy camp's call for a referendum to measure public support for the introduction of universal suffrage by 2007, after Beijing ruled it out in April.
Mr Leung said if such a mechanism was enshrined in law, the recent controversy over the West Kowloon project and the privatisation of Housing Authority properties would not have happened.
Mr Leung has sent the documents to Mrs Fan, Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie and other legislators.
