The leader of Hong Kong's Catholics yesterday warned that Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen must fulfil a promise to resolve the question of universal suffrage, otherwise he would raise the stakes.
Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun's warning came as the democratic camp began drawing up a strategy to mobilise public support for democratisation during the summer, following the imminent release of a green paper on political reform.
Speaking three days after he made his first appearance at the July 1 pro-democracy march, the cardinal said he wanted to see the green paper provide a clear indication of how the city should progress towards universal suffrage.
'Donald Tsang has promised he would resolve the question of universal suffrage. If the green paper does not achieve that, if it does not bring us clearly towards that goal but takes us on a walk in the park, then I will definitely 'make it big' this time,' he said.
Cardinal Zen would not elaborate on this but added he might write articles about how democracy would be beneficial to the people, as the city was already late in planning for a democratic future. 'My joining of the July 1 march was just a warming-up exercise,' he said.
Tens of thousands marched on Sunday calling for more democracy and improved livelihoods.
Cardinal Zen's comments come two days after Liu Bainian , a deputy chairman of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, hit out at his participation in the democracy rally, saying it would not help Sino-Vatican relations.