Hong Kong appears to be heading toward greater political confrontation in the coming weeks. Pro-democracy activists are preparing to hold an unofficial referendum to pressure the territorys government and its superiors in Beijing to accept stronger democratic reforms. The Occupy Central movements referendum will ask residents whether they believe the public has a right to nominate candidates for the citys next leadership election in 2017. That is the first election in which Beijing has said the chief executive post can be filled by universal suffrage. Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has criticized the referendum, telling lawmakers last week that he will not be pressured into implementing reforms that do not comply with the citys constitution, or Basic Law. Leung and Chinese officials have said the Basic Law requires candidates to be nominated only by a committee and show loyalty to the Chinese motherland. The head of Hong Kongs pro-democracy Civic Party, lawmaker Alan Leong, rejects that interpretation. He spoke last week with Daybreak Asias Michael Lipin, who asked him whether he thinks the Hong Kong government can reach a compromise over the nomination process. https://soundcloud/voaasia/michael-lipins-qa-with-hong-kong-politician-alan-leong
Posted on: Fri, 30 May 2014 08:00:01 +0000
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