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A program about the Chief Executive election method in RTHK, Kowloon Tong, in September 20, 2013. Changing the city's mini-constitution involves several steps and needs support from the local and national legislatures and local deputies to the NPC. Photo: Thomas Yau

Beijing has concerns over possible compromise on Hong Kong political reform

Plan to guarantee the right to change electoral system 'worries Beijing'

Beijing has reservations about setting down in black and white a guarantee that the system for electing the chief executive can be changed after 2017, even though local officials believe such a pledge can help win pan-democratic support for the government's political reform package.

A Hong Kong official revealed Beijing's doubts over the compromise as a local deputy to the National People's Congress said he would submit a proposal to write such a pledge into the Basic Law to Beijing next week.

The idea has emerged as a possible way for the government to break a logjam which has left its chances of securing a 2/3 majority for its political reform package in the legislature in the balance. The government has yet to hammer out details of the package, but pan-democrats have vowed to vote down any proposal based on a framework set by the NPC's Standing Committee last year, which they say falls short of providing a truly democratic election for chief executive in 2017.

NPC delegate and New People's Party lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun said he would propose altering Annex I of the Basic Law, which sets down the method of electing the chief executive, to guarantee that the electoral system can be changed further.

Michael Tien Puk-sun said he would propose altering part of the Basic Law to guarantee the electoral system can be changed further. Photo: Dickson Lee
"I know some pan-democrats are looking for a way to back out of the predicament," Tien said. "A guarantee clause in the Basic Law for future improvement would be one way."

But, Tien added: "Changing the Basic Law will touch a nerve with Beijing. That's why we must get the green light if Hong Kong officials want to do that."

Under Tien's proposal, there would be a written guarantee that the procedure under which Hong Kong changes its electoral system could be started again ahead of the 2022 chief executive election and subsequent polls. That could ease the concerns of pan-democrats, who fear Beijing will insist that arrangements in 2017 - under which only two or three candidates, selected by a 1,200-strong committee, could face the public vote - were final.

The five-step procedure for electoral reform is started by the chief executive and requires approval from local and national legislatures.

Tien said some pan-democrats not tied to major parties had expressed interest in his idea.

However a Hong Kong official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Beijing was concerned about the legal technicalities of what was "essentially an amendment of the Basic Law" that would therefore "trigger a much more elaborate process".

Changing the city's mini-constitution involves several steps and needs support from the local and national legislatures and local deputies to the NPC.

"But if pan-democrats buy the idea, we will try our best to work with Beijing to solve the technical issues," the official added.

Civic Party lawmaker Ronny Tong Ka-wah - a moderate considered a likely target for the government as it seeks votes - saw no technical reason for Beijing not to promise further change.

"It's a matter of determination on Beijing's part," he said. "The NPC Standing Committee could just roll out yet another decision to promise future changes before the Legco vote. This is the simplest way."

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: 'Technicalities' cloud 2017 compromise idea
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