Jan 3 The Liberal Party will certainly field candidates for the by-elections. The only thing we won?t do is not field any candidates Michael Tien Puk-sun, Liberal Party?s standing committee member Jan 12 We will contest the Legco seats vacated by the pan-democrats who resigned Ip Kwok-him, DAB There is no arrangement for referendums in Hong Kong and the by-elections are not a referendum Executive Council convenor Leung Chun-ying Jan 14 Any so-called referendum in Hong Kong has no legal basis ... and is not recognised by the SAR government Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen Jan 15 Any so-called referendum would be inconsistent with Hong Kong?s legal status ? It would be fundamentally against the Basic Law and the 2007 decisions of the National People?s Congress Standing Committee Statement issued by the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Jan 19 The government should not hold any by-elections to fill the vacancies. The Legco president should declare those lawmakers are no longer qualified for office if they are absent from meetings for three consecutive months without valid reasons Lau Nai-keung, Basic Law Committee member Jan 20 The by-elections are by no means a de facto referendum. If we have suitable candidates, we will field them to contest the vacant seats Miriam Lau Kin-yee, Liberal Party chairwoman Jan 21 Those who call it a referendum are brainless. Is Hong Kong a country? Is it Republic of Hong Kong? It is not Tsang Hin-chi, veteran leftist and former NPC standing committee member I plan to move a private member?s bill to amend the Legislative Council Ordinance so that a legislator who loses his or her seat cannot be allowed to stand again in the same legislative session. The aim is to prevent a legislator from resigning without reasons or conditions Legislator Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, of Professional Forum If it?s defined as a referendum, we may not contest in the by-elections Ip Kwok-him Jan 22 The pan-democrats? resignation plan is unnecessary and contravenes the Basic Law?s outline for democratic development Leung Chun-ying Jan 23 The Liberal Party will not take part in the by-election ? In the past two days there has been a big change ? Now they say they want to create a civil uprising Miriam Lau Kin-yee Jan 24 I very much hope the League of Social Democrats and the Civic Party will stop for a while and rethink this Leung Yiu-chung, pan-democrat legislator The two parties should rein in the horse at the edge of the cliff Secretary for Mainland and Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung, using a Chinese proverb to urge caution
