Beijing blueprint is basis for political reform in Hong Kong, John Tsang says
But ex-finance chief adds trust needed and political climate must be receptive
Beijing’s rigid framework for changing Hong Kong’s election system should be regarded as the basis for future political reform, former finance minister John Tsang Chun-wah said a day after he declared his bid to run for chief executive.
His clarification on Friday instantly upset the pan-democrats, whose support he needs to qualify for the city’s leadership race.
“A new round of political reform should be started from the August 31 decision rolled out by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress,” Tsang told RTHK, referring to Beijing’s blueprint in 2014 on how Hong Kong elections should be conducted.
Watch: John Tsang declares bid to lead Hong Kong
The framework, which served as a rallying point for Occupy protesters, would effectively allow a proposed 1,200-member nominating committee to screen out chief executive candidates deemed unacceptable to the central government.
