Clear road map on electoral reform needed
I was interested to read the comments attributed to deputy director of the central government liaison office, Li Gang ('Suffrage progress in 2012 important, Beijing official says', November 5), stressing the importance of making progress in 2012 towards the implementation of universal suffrage for the election of the chief executive in 2017 and all members of the Legislative Council in 2020.
We all want to see 'gradual and orderly progress' being made in 2012, but this will only be possible if the government's forthcoming proposals are seen to constitute genuine progress towards genuine universal and equal suffrage.
Simply tinkering with the present system - along the lines of the package of government proposals voted down by Legco in 2005 - will not do. Nor will proposals that serve to expand or entrench systems of voting that are manifestly unfair and inequitable, unless it is made clear that such systems will be phased out entirely by the relevant target dates for achieving universal suffrage.
In order for progress to be made in 2012, Hong Kong people must be able to see clearly the model of universal suffrage that will be in place by 2017 and 2020.
Failure to provide a clear road map for further reforms, beyond 2012, runs the risk of creating further stalemate in the community and the legislature, something that no one wants to see.
Anson Chan, Wan Chai
