Leung Chun-ying says Beijing's consent to start reform talks not needed
Amid heated debate over remarks by National People's Congress Law Committee chairman Qiao Xiaoyang on criteria for chief executive candidates in 2017, political analysts have speculated that the government is reluctant to consult the people because Beijing had yet to give it instructions on the matter.
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has dismissed speculation that he needs a top Beijing official's instructions before launching a consultation on electoral reform.
When asked when the government would launch a public consultation, Leung said: "We still have time".
Amid heated debate over remarks by National People's Congress Law Committee chairman Qiao Xiaoyang on criteria for chief executive candidates in 2017, political analysts have speculated that the government is reluctant to consult the people because Beijing had yet to give it instructions on the matter.
But when asked yesterday in a media gathering whether he was waiting for Qiao's consent to launch a public discussion, Leung said: "Rubbish!"
Qiao said in March that consultation should not begin until most Hongkongers agreed those who confronted the central government should not rule the city.
Former chief secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen, who led the successful effort to pass electoral reforms for last year's vote, has urged the government to launch a consultation by October.