We Even Listened To The Pan-dems: Zhang Xiaoming

The deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Zhang Xiaoming, says mainland officials have gauged views from various sectors – including some pan-democrats in Hong Kong – on planned changes for the electoral system.

Zhang was speaking to reporters on Wednesday after co-hosting more than 60 seminars and meeting some 1,000 people over the past three days to collect views on the plan.

He did not say who the "pan-democrats" were, saying only that most of those he spoke to agreed that the proposed changes were necessary and timely.

Zhang also quoted a media boss, without naming him, as saying: “If we’re lost, and the road is blocked, then why shouldn’t we make up our minds, go back to the starting point, figure out the right path and start afresh?” Zhang said everybody ought to find this to be inspiring.

Beijing has already decided that the election committee, which currently picks the SAR's chief executive, will in future comprise of 1,500 members, instead of the current 1,200. It would also be given new powers to nominate and select some lawmakers.

In addition, Legco will be expanded from 70 members to 90, with lawmakers elected through direct polls, functional constituency elections, and by the election committee.

Zhang said many people who had attended the seminars had proposed scrapping the current 117 district councillor seats on the election committee, or at least cutting the number substantially.

For his part, Zhang said district councils should not be allowed to have too much political power.

“The current situation is that some district councillors have turned the district councils into platforms to challenge the principle and bottom line of 'One Country, Two Systems' and impact the Hong Kong SAR's constitutional order,” he said.

Zhang said "necessary adjustments" must clearly be considered to rectify the situation.