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League may break with other pan-democrats

The League of Social Democrats yesterday warned that it could be 'forced to sever' its relationship with other pan-democratic parties by the end of the year over the issue of constitutional reform.

The radical group, which has three lawmakers - Albert Chan Wai-yip, Leung Kwok-hung and chairman Wong Yuk-man - said they would continue to push for full universal suffrage in 2012 regardless of what the government might offer for consultation at the end of the year.

However, the administration has already indicated that it will abide by the 2007 decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, which ruled out universal suffrage in 2012. It will therefore offer for consultation measures to further democratise elections in 2012 without discussing universal suffrage for the election of the chief executive and all lawmakers in 2017 and 2020 respectively.

Mr Leung said the League still planned to urge one pan-democrat from each of the five geographical constituencies to stand down - causing by-elections across the city and therefore initiating a quasi-referendum on universal suffrage in 2012.

'This is merely a political gesture, but if they cannot support us in doing even this, then we will be forced to break away from the other pan-democrats,' said Mr Leung.

He noted that there were no longer any issues on which the League agreed with other pan-democratic parties. 'You can see that often, it is just us three voting against the government. Striving for dual universal suffrage in 2012 is the only thing that holds us together,' Mr Leung said.

Strains in the relationship between the League and other pan-democratic parties were apparent throughout the legislative year.

Civic Party lawmaker Ronny Tong Ka-wah conceded there were different views on how to react should the consultation again rule out discussion of universal suffrage in 2012 and make no mention of how full suffrage can be attained in 2017.

'But the most important thing at the moment is unity,' he said.

However, another League member, district councillor Andrew To Kwan-hang, expressed confidence that the pan-democratic camp could remain united.

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