NPC framework offers scope for positive change in 2017 chief executive election
Lawrence Lau and Ayesha Lau say even within Beijing's tight election framework, there's scope to enable candidates from all sides to stand. And requiring the winner to obtain an outright majority would, in effect, give voters a veto
The National People's Congress Standing Committee has sketched out a broad framework for the election of Hong Kong's chief executive by universal suffrage in 2017. Many among us are disappointed that the framework is not more flexible. However, it is still an important step forward. The alternative is to continue the election of our leader by the Election Committee, which no one wants to see happen.
Waiting until 2022 to implement the chief executive election by universal suffrage would not necessarily improve the terms. If we fail to take advantage of the opportunity for 2017, not only would we continue with the existing system, but we would also further delay the introduction of universal suffrage elections for the Legislative Council, to 2024 or beyond.
This is definitely the time for the people of Hong Kong to put aside their differences and work together to make universal suffrage a reality in 2017.
The NPC decision specifies that the size, composition and method of selection of the nominating committee should essentially follow the principles and practices of the existing Election Committee. This means major changes are unlikely to be possible, but marginal changes, such as abolishing corporate voting in some constituencies, probably are.
The easiest way to achieve a consensus is probably to require open endorsement by nominating committee members of nominees for candidacy. Each nominee would have to be endorsed by at least an eighth of all members, similar to the existing Election Committee threshold.
Each member could endorse only one nominee, but would not be required to do so. This means, in theory, it would be possible to have up to eight nominees before the committee, which would then select two to three candidates by democratic procedures. In practice, it would certainly be possible to have more than three nominees, including at least one supported by the pan-democrats.
Voting on the nominees should be conducted by secret ballot. Each nominee would come up for a vote by the entire nominating committee. He or she must obtain more than half the votes of members to become a candidate. However, in the event that more than three nominees receive more than half the votes, the three with the highest number of votes would become candidates.
