New | Hong Kong government unable to explain point of forthcoming report on public mood

A report being compiled by the Hong Kong government to reflect recent public opinion about the city’s democratic development will form no part of the official reform process, one of the officials drafting the document said today.

The report will include the results of opinion polls and “signature collection campaigns”, likely referring to the controversial signature campaign run by a group opposed to the seven-week-long blockade of main roads by pro-democracy protesters.

It will “objectively and truthfully” reflect public opinion since August 31, when Beijing ruled out an open election of the next chief executive, said Acting Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Lau Kong-wah.

The report will be filed to the central government’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office. But Lau refused to explain how the government was collecting views from pro-democracy protesters, and said the report will not form part of the official reform process.

The official process will continue with the public being invited to weigh in on a draft reform package that complies with the tight restrictions that Beijing set out on August 31.

A report based on a first round of public consultation earlier this year was heavily criticised for ignoring or downplaying non-establishment views.

Asked by a lawmaker what the point of the new report would be, Lau could not explain, and offered no thoughts on whether it would help to solve the current deadlock between the government and pro-democracy protesters.