Fanny Law warns pan-democrats on consequences of failure to reach universal suffrage
Executive councillor says it would take 'a long time' to move ahead on democracy if consensus on universal suffrage not achieved by 2017
An executive councillor has warned that the city will take "a long time" to reach a consensus on political reform if it cannot achieve universal suffrage for the 2017 chief executive election.
If Hong Kong really failed to take its political system forward by then, the administration would still need to improve governance by forging a ruling coalition with government-friendly parties, for example, said Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, who is in Beijing as a deputy to the National People's Congress, which kicked off its annual session yesterday.
"Political parties should be allowed to take part in formulating policy, rather than being informed shortly before policy initiatives are announced," she said.
Law urged pan-democrats, particularly those with moderate views, to recognise the consequences of failing to attain universal suffrage in 2017.
"It would take a long time to rebuild the mutual trust between the central government and pan-democrats if universal suffrage is not achieved in 2017," she said.
Pan-democrats advocate a three-track system in the election of the chief executive - allowing voters and political parties, on top of a nominating committee, to nominate candidates.