Tsang says HK should avoid 'excessive devolution of power that paralyses government'
Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said yesterday he had not ruled out universal suffrage in 2012, but he warned that democracy was not a panacea for Hong Kong's problems.
Unveiling his election manifesto at a question-and-answer session for about 300 Election Committee members at a hotel in Admiralty, Mr Tsang stressed that any change in the political system should avoid 'excessive devolution of power that paralyses the government and slows down economic growth'.
'I haven't ruled out universal suffrage in 2012,' Mr Tsang said in reply to one question, a day after promising a green paper in the middle of the year to gauge public opinion on the issue.
Pro-Beijing groups estimate Mr Tsang had secured nominations from at least 80 Election Committee members on his first day of campaigning.
Challenger Alan Leong Kah-kit, speaking at the Legislative Council building, accused Mr Tsang of lacking responsibility on political development.
'He might as well have said he wouldn't rule out giving each citizen a flat,' Mr Leong said. 'As Mr Tsang must understand, to achieve universal suffrage, we need to pass three stages: consent from Legco, the chief executive, and Beijing.
