2017 our real goal for reform, says Anson Chan
Legislative councillor and former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang called for Hong Kong to prepare for universal suffrage in 2017 and 2020 when she joined thousands of people on yesterday's march calling for full democracy in 2012.
The rally, organised by the Civil Human Rights Front and pan-democratic legislators, had as its theme 'Persisting with dual universal suffrage in 2012, no fake democracy in 2017'. It was staged in protest against last month's ruling by the National People's Congress Standing Committee against universal suffrage in Hong Kong in 2012.
Demonstrators marched from Victoria Park in Causeway Bay to the government headquarters in Central. Organisers said 22,000 people took part, while police said 6,800 gathered at the starting point.
More than 200 elderly people led the march to express their desire to see universal suffrage in their lifetimes.
They were followed by pan-democratic lawmakers and various groups and individuals.
Mrs Chan, accompanied by her family, walked near the end of the march, holding a banner with the slogans 'Implementation of real universal suffrage as soon as possible' and 'Fighting for a clear road map'.
She said while most people were disappointed that full direct elections for 2012 had been ruled out, the community should start working on methods to achieve universal suffrage in 2017 and 2020 - the years for which the NPC Standing Committee has given tentative approval.
'We should sit down as soon as possible and discuss how to implement real universal suffrage for the chief executive in 2017, and how to implement real universal suffrage for the Legislative Council in 2020,' Mrs Chan said.
Asked why her slogan said 'as soon as possible' instead of '2012', Hong Kong's newest legislator said she did not rule out that year, reiterating that she had proposed universal suffrage in 2012 in her election platform.
Legislator and unionist Lee Cheuk-yan said: 'Nothing is impossible in politics. If Hong Kong people are united, it is absolutely possible to fight for universal suffrage in 2012.'
Political analyst Ma Ngok, of Chinese University, said Mrs Chan wanted to play a 'middle role' between the pan-democrats and the central government but they were roles that might not be compatible.
Academic James Sung Lap-kung of City University, said more people than expected had joined the march.
A government spokesman said: 'Hong Kong is a pluralistic society. The government will respect and listen to any views expressed through legal means.
'The government will make utmost efforts to work together with different political parties in the Legislative Council, independent members, different sectors and the community as a whole to forge a consensus on rolling forward democracy for electing the chief executive and Legco in 2012 and to pave the way for implementing universal suffrage for electing the chief executive in 2017 and the Legco in 2020,' the spokesman said.
