Overhaul of Hong Kong elections not aimed at shutting out opposition voices, former city leader says
- Larger legislature will create more space for participation and discussion, argues Tung Chee-hwa
- Former leader Leung Chun-ying also backs changes, saying greater role of Election Committee will reduce strife
During a Friday web seminar organised by his think tank, Our Hong Kong Foundation, Tung also argued that while the changes would eliminate anti-China forces from elections, the city would remain politically diverse.
“We cannot make tiny adjustments, we must turn things around,” he said. “The implementation of ‘patriots ruling Hong Kong’ does not aim to target any political groups. It does not aim to shut out any party, nor to make the Legislative Council speak in one voice.”
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“Open, transparent, fair and just election arrangements will still exist. The number of seats [in Legco] will be increased, meaning space for participation and discussion of politics will also be improved.”
Legco will be expanded from 70 to 90 members, who will be returned by the Election Committee, as well as functional and geographical constituencies.
Tung reiterated that while everyone could criticise the government if its performance was poor, in the 24 years since the city’s handover from Britain, people with ulterior motives had attacked the government without reason.