News: Tsang makes TV appeal on reforms

Awaiting a democractic Hong Kong

With
his political reform package in danger of being vetoed by angry
democrats and a protest march set for Sunday, Chief Executive Donald
Tsang has taken the unprecedented step of going on television to appeal
directly to the people to support his administration’s modest changes
to the electoral system. More

Michael NgandCarrie Chan

Thursday, December 01, 2005

With
his political reform package in danger of being vetoed by angry
democrats and a protest march set for Sunday, Chief Executive Donald
Tsang has taken the unprecedented step of going on television to appeal
directly to the people to support his administration’s modest changes
to the electoral system.

"The proposed package has not come easily.
So tonight, I personally appeal to you all: do not let the hard work
and efforts of the past two years be wasted," Tsang said in a
five-minute speech Wednesday.

"I really cannot see any other
option that can better suit Hong Kong’s current circumstances, and be
acceptable to all interested parties."

All 25 pro-democracy
legislators have threatened to scuttle the package when it comes up for
a vote on December 21. In order to be enacted it requires a two-thirds
vote in Legco and democrats hold the deciding votes. A defeat would be
a blow for Tsang’s prestige.

In Tsang’s address, the medium
seemed very much the message, a sober plea for the community to back
away from protest and support reform or face a standstill in democratic
development.

A senior Tsang aide said that if the broadcast
turned out to be popular with the public, it might turn out to be a
regular part of Tsang’s political repertory.

"We borrowed the
idea from the president of the United States who appealed to the
country on TV when he announced the US military invasion of Iraq," the
aide said. "Tsang was advised to use his personal charisma and
popularity to call for public support."

A source said the message
was taped a few days ago for airing in advance of tomorrow’s meeting in
Shenzhen between legislators and mainland officials.

"We are now facing a real danger of our democratic development coming to a halt" if the reforms are voted down,  Tsang warned.

"I
have thought long and hard about whether we could develop a better and
more feasible package," Tsang said, looking directly into the camera.

But the reforms have "given due regard to the aspirations of different sectors of the community."

Most
pro-democrat legislators remain unimpressed, accusing Tsang of
insincerity and trying to threaten the public not to join Sunday’s
protest.

Catholic Bishop Joseph Zen said Tsang’s speech and the
Shenzhen meeting tomorrow will only increase public enthusiasm to take
part in the pro- democracy rally. "I think the moves [the government]
is taking just days before the rally will just create a tense
atmosphere," Zen said.

Tsang called on all 60 legislators to
"cast their votes sensibly," as Hong Kong could only move forward to
achieving universal suffrage if the Legislative Council passes the
package. "Let’s not miss this opportunity before us. If we choose to
mark time rather than stride ahead we will be further away from our
goal of universal suffrage, not closer to it," he said.

Barrister-legislator
Alan Leong, of the Article 45 Concern Group, dismissed Tsang remarks.
"The chief executive just meant that if you all do not pass the
proposal, he will not move in the direction of universal suffrage. He
is just threatening the public and failed to show any sincerity to
endorse universal suffrage in future."

Slamming the government
for shifting the blame for risking rejection of the proposal to
legislators and the public, Democratic Party chairman Lee Wing-tat said
his party will not change its stance to vote down the proposal.

Chinese
University political analyst Chan Kin-man said comments made in
Shenzhen by National People’s Congress Standing Committee deputy
secretary general Qiao Xiaoyang will have an important effect on the
rally turnout, because Qiao is likely to relay the central government’s
views over the introduction of universal suffrage.

Nineteen
pro-democracy legislators have been invited to join 43 chairmen and
vice chairmen of committees and affairs panels at the forum.

Frontier
convenor Emily Lau and former radio host Albert Cheng are the most
hardline pro-democrats to confirm their attendance, while moderates
include Association for Democracy and People’s Livelihood chairman
Frederick Fung, accounting sector legislator Mandy Tam and health
services legislator Joseph Lee.

Former Democratic Party chairman
Yeung Sum and party legislator Fred Li will attend after receiving
approval from the party’s central committee.

"We are all willing to do everything we can to push for the democratic process in Hong Kong," Lau said.

"We
have no idea what Qiao is going to say. We hope he is willing to
immediately introduce universal suffrage in 2007-08 or at least offer
us a timetable.

"Let’s see what he will say. But if he fails to
impress the Hong Kong public, he may just push 200,000 or 300,000 more
people to take part in the Sunday rally."