Political system must not harm 'one country': mainland Basic Law experts
Changing the method of electing the chief executive and members of the Legislative Council is not something that can be decided by Hong Kong people alone, mainland legal experts said yesterday.
In an attempt to elaborate on the meaning of President Hu Jintao's remarks on Wednesday about political reform in Hong Kong, Xinhua sought the views of three Basic Law drafters - professors Xu Chongde and Xiao Weiyun, and Wu Jianfan - and of Xia Yong, a mainland member of the Basic Law Committee.
According to the official news agency's report last night, the experts said it was 'a misunderstanding' that some in Hong Kong had regarded the constitutional changes as 'entirely the special administrative region's internal affair'.
The experts noted that Appendix 1 of the mini-constitution stipulates that changes to the method of electing the chief executive after 2007 must first be agreed by two-thirds of Legco members and by the chief executive, and then be approved by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
Reacting to the statement, Yeung Sum, the chairman of the Democratic Party, noted that Beijing had said it would listen to the public's views. He warned of a constitutional crisis if Beijing would not approve direct election for the chief executive after Hong Kong people had said yes to such a change.
