Universal Suffrage May Come Earlier Now: Rita Fan

Beijing’s overhaul of Hong Kong’s electoral system might result in the SAR being able to select its chief executive and all members of the legislature by universal suffrage earlier, a former National People’s Congress standing committee member said on Sunday.

Rita Fan said the changes, which officials say will ensure Hong Kong is ruled by “patriots”, had eased concerns about sedition and treason.

The former Legislative Council president said there might be a special nomination method, but everyone will have a vote.

Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung also insisted that Hong Kong is moving towards universal suffrage.

“I have to reiterate that the central government didn’t change one word in Article 45 and Article 68 of the Basic Law, which stipulate how the chief executive and Legislative Council are elected,” he wrote on his blog.

“There’s no change in our ultimate aim of universal suffrage.”

Cheung also dismissed suggestions that Hong Kong’s democratic development had regressed as a result of the changes, writing that they had plugged loopholes that undermine the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.

He said Hong Kong's political system had been given a fresh start and the city would no longer be embroiled in endless political disputes, and added that the increase in the number of Legco seats to 90 would better represent the public.