Legco president hopeful of deal on electoral reform
Legislature's president says political will is building on all sides for a deal to get universal suffrage by time of next chief executive vote
The Legislative Council president says he is more optimistic than he was several months ago about the parties reaching an agreement on coming electoral reform, and urged both the pan-democrats and Beijing not to regard one another as "enemies or devils".
Jasper Tsang Yok-sing was the man behind the unprecedented visit made by liaison office director Zhang Xiaoming to the Legco last week. He said he was satisfied with the meeting, as it had reflected an intention between the two camps to communicate.
There is now a higher degree of willingness in the pan-democratic camp, the Hong Kong government and the central government to reach an agreement
"I definitely won't tell you I am pessimistic," Tsang said.
"Compared with months ago, I believe I have reasons to be more optimistic."
He was speaking at the Legco's year-end briefing yesterday, referring to electoral reform that would decide rules for potential universal suffrage in the election of the next chief executive in 2017.
"There is now a higher degree of willingness in the pan-democratic camp, the Hong Kong government and the central government to reach an agreement," he said. "But both the pan-democrats and the central government must admit that both sides are carrying out their roles under the Basic Law."
Tsang said there have been "two schools of thought" regarding political reform and that a sense of the importance of striking a deal is prevailing.
"Some people think it's no big deal if an agreement cannot be reached - the Occupy Central protest will go ahead and last for days or weeks before everything gets back to normal," he said. "Some others think we must try our best to make sure universal suffrage happens in 2017. If we fail, it will be a disaster. [More people] from both camps are taking this line of thought."
Tsang added that the government may have barely enough time to complete legislation on political reform if it launches a consultation by next year.
Tsang said the relationship between the executive authorities and the legislature "could not get better or worse", since it was governed by the political system.
"The government wishes to obtain stable support from the Legco, but I do not think it can be achieved under the current system," he said.
The budget debate has been one of two targets for filibusters in the past year and Tsang said the stalling tactics "had been expected".
He insisted he would continue to exercise his power under procedural rules to end filibusters when necessary.
During the session, the government introduced 22 bills, of which 14 were passed - five with amendments and nine without. The remaining eight bills will be carried over to the next session. In a total of 37 meetings, the Legco has also debated 51 non-binding motions.
