Political showdown in Hong Kong ahead of key reform vote

AFP, HONG KONG: Hong Kong entered a political showdown yesterday as lawmakers debated a divisive electoral reform package ahead of a key vote that pits democracy campaigners against the government.
The vote to be held later this week is the culmination of a fraught chapter which saw tens of thousands of protesters take to the streets last year over the electoral roadmap proposed by Beijing.
Although the Hong Kong government's roadmap would for the first time
give all residents the right to vote for the chief executive in 2017, it adheres to a Beijing ruling that candidates must be vetted by a loyalist committee.
The plan is derided as fake democracy by opposition lawmakers, who have vowed to vote against it and deny the two-thirds majority it needs to pass.
Authorities in semi-autonomous Hong Kong have said repeatedly they cannot diverge from Beijing's ruling last August, which sparked weeks of mass rallies and road blockades that brought parts of the city to a standstill.
Tensions are again high in the city over an alleged explosives plot.
Police have said one of 10 people arrested had claimed to be a member of a radical local group, although some local activists are sceptical.
The debate began Wednesday afternoon, with the vote expected to take place by Friday.
The city's deputy leader Carrie Lam warned that reform would be off the table if the package was blocked.
This administration cannot re-launch the (reform) process... political development will inevitably come to a standstill, she said
A front-page editorial in China's People's Daily, the Communist Party's mouthpiece, urged lawmakers Wednesday to pass the bill, saying social chaos could ensue otherwise.
But Civic Party leader
Alan Leong tore into the Beijing authorities during
the debate.

Political showdown in Hong Kong ahead of key reform vote

AFP, HONG KONG: Hong Kong entered a political showdown yesterday as lawmakers debated a divisive electoral reform package ahead of a key vote that pits democracy campaigners against the government. The vote to be held later this week is the culmination of a fraught chapter which saw tens of thousands of protesters take to the streets last year over the electoral roadmap proposed by Beijing. Although the Hong Kong governments roadmap would for the first time give all residents the right to vote for the chief executive in 2017, it adheres to a Beijing ruling that candidates must be vetted by a loyalist committee. The plan is derided as fake democracy by opposition lawmakers, who have vowed to vote against it and deny the two-thirds majority it needs to pass. Authorities in semi-autonomous Hong Kong have said repeatedly they cannot diverge from Beijings ruling last August, which sparked weeks of mass rallies and road blockades that brought parts of the city to a standstill. Tensions are again high in the city over an alleged explosives plot. Police have said one of 10 people arrested had claimed to be a member of a radical local group, although some local activists are sceptical. The debate began Wednesday afternoon, with the vote expected to take place by Friday. The citys deputy leader Carrie Lam warned that reform would be off the table if the package was blocked. This administration cannot re-launch the (reform) process... political development will inevitably come to a standstill, she said A front-page editorial in Chinas Peoples Daily, the Communist Partys mouthpiece, urged lawmakers Wednesday to pass the bill, saying social chaos could ensue otherwise. But Civic Party leader Alan Leong tore into the Beijing authorities during the debate.