Former secretary for justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie blames the lack of a consensus among legislators for Hong Kong's democratic development grinding to a halt. At a lunch organised yesterday by pro-government groups to celebrate her retirement, Miss Leung said it was impossible for the government any time soon to secure the two-thirds majority in the Legislative Council required for any amendment to election methods for the polls next year and in 2008. 'We can only accept the fact that the legislators have not yet forged a consensus and that the actual situation in Hong Kong does not allow us to move towards greater democracy,' she said. The former justice minister hoped the community could study the issue of forging a road map for attaining universal suffrage with a cool head once the controversy over the government's failed electoral reform package subsided. Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong vice-chairman Lau Kong-wah said Miss Leung was telling the plain truth that there would not be any changes to the electoral system in the wake of the rejection of the government blueprint. 'The democrats are calling on the government to introduce changes to the electoral methods by amending local legislation governing the elections,' he said. 'Our party keeps an open mind about the idea but I think it's illogical for them to make such a call after vetoing down the government proposal,' Mr Lau said. Miss Leung said people who criticised Beijing's interpretations of the Basic Law had turned a blind eye to the provisions in the mini-constitution that empowered the National People's Congress to exercise such power. The DAB is considering inviting Miss Leung, a founding member, to rejoin the pro-government flagship or to serve as an adviser. She quit the party when she joined the government in 1997.
