Former HK leader calls for unity in reform plans

Former Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa addresses a news conference in Hong Kong September 3, 2014. [Photo: Xinhua]

A former Chief Executive in Hong Kong has broken his long-standing silence in the city to come out in support of the new proposal for universal suffrage in 2017.

In his first news conference since stepping down as the city's leader in 2005, Tung Chee-hwa says he hopes the people of Hong Kong will seize the opportunity to move forward in its political development.

"On the verge of our going for the biggest political leap since the birth of Hong Kong 150 years ago, how can we possibly choose to stand still? How can we let our march towards democracy stop and stall? We cannot. Five million voters personally picking their leader is democracy, real and substantial. "

Tung Chee-hwa, who is currently the vice-chair of China's top political advisory body, says even though some people are not satisfied with the candidates being nominated by a "broadly representative" committee as proposed by the National People's Congress, the plans do have a solid foundation.

"I appeal to people of all political stripes to come together and turn negative sentiments into positive energy. Hand in hand, we will build a sound electoral arrangement on the basis of the foundation laid down by the NPC."

Under the proposal set forth by the National People's Congress, candidates for Hong Kong's chief executive must "love the country and love Hong Kong."

Tung Chee-hwa says the provision actually involves three elements.

"To being a patriotic, to start with, to understand the country, the second thing is to really care and protect the country's wellbeing. And the third point that I want to say is that the person must respect the country's constitution."

He also says he's "resolutely opposed" to the so-called Occupy Central movement.

This is a group opposed to the new proposals who claim they plan to disrupt Hong Kong's financial district in an attempt to try to press their demands for broader electoral reforms in the city.