Slash Functional Constituency Numbers: Ex-official

Former Civil Service secretary Joseph Wong on Friday called on the government to consider reforming the Legislative Council by reducing the number of functional constituencies.

Wong said he was not sure if the move would help calm society down, but he believes it would help give people hope that their aspiration for more say in the city's governance will be heard.

As the campaign against the extradition bill continues, political reform has also become one of the demands of the protesters.

The former official said while the protesters have been calling for political reform, Beijing's offer made five years ago – known as the 8.31 framework based on the date it was announced – is too rigid to be changed.

"If the government is [willing] to do something on the political reform, I think we should start with the Legislative Council. Because the Legislative Council has been considered by many in the community as a body which does not represent the majority of the Hong Kong people's views," he said.

He said the number of directly elected seats could be increased to 40, from the current 35. "This at least would give the people of Hong Kong, particularly the younger generation, the hope that their voices will be better heard," Wong said.

Asked if the central government would accept such a change, Wong said: "My hope is the central government will see that the present situation does no good to Hong Kong itself, does no good to the central government. The Hong Kong people's wishes are not against One Country, Two Systems, but for a proper implementation of it."

He told RTHK's Janice Wong that if Beijing starts thinking along these lines, perhaps it could look at enhancing the democratic nature of Legco.

Wong also said he doesn't believe dialogue with student protesters or resignations by executive councillors would do much to resolve the current crisis.