An unlikely alliance is emerging between lawmakers pushing for a de facto referendum on universal suffrage and young protesters opposing the express rail link project, despite the latter's suspicions about the political establishment.
The Civic Party, which is pushing the de facto referendum plan with the League of Social Democrats, had invited some of the protesters to discuss the drafting of the referendum exercise's manifesto, Civic Party secretary general Kenneth Chan Ka-lok said.
'Although the anti-express rail link campaign organisers might not openly back the referendum plan, both of our campaigns share a key message - opposing the undemocratic nature of functional constituencies in the legislature,' Chan said.
The two political groups pushing the referendum plan have noticed the protesters' strength in shaping political opinion. They hope the young people's opposition to functional constituencies will help mobilise support for the referendum campaign.
The protesters are being careful not to appear as mouthpieces for the pan-democrats, although they believe the camp's fight for universal suffrage will help promote their cause.
Under the referendum plan, a lawmaker from each of the five geographical constituencies will resign, forcing a de facto referendum on universal suffrage for 2012.