Hong Kong To Start New Round Of Consultation for Political Reform

Monica Cantilero Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Tents and debris are removed near the government headquarters building at the financial Central district in Hong Kong on Dec. 11, 2014. | REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

After more than two months of pro-democracy protests, the Hong Kong government is set to start a second round of consultation for political reforms.

Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, has finally been allowed by Beijing to hold public elections for its leader in 2017, BBC News reported.

The consultation on how Hong Kong's leader will be chosen came a day after the government's submission of a report to Beijing on Hong Kong's political situation, including the pro-democracy rallies.

The report, slammed by pro-democracy campaigners and academics for not reflecting the public's demands for democracy, showed that "unlawful" rallies caused a "widespread concern in the community" and that "constitutional development has been an extremely controversial issue."

China has already expressed that it wants to maintain control over the candidates for the position. Its top decision-making body has issued a ruling in August which states that people can vote for a Hong Kong leader but maintained that a pro-Beijing committee will select who will run.

The ruling also limits the candidates to two or three.

To hold public elections, the Hong Kong government has to pass a political reform package in the legislative council after the second round of public consultation.

Pro-democracy lawmakers already swore to reject any proposal that will not bring "genuine" democracy, according to BBC News. Beijing's move to put restrictions over who can run, they assert, does not constitute real democracy.

If the proposed reforms are vetoed, the current method of choosing the leader through a 1,200-strong election committee will be continued.

Article 45 of Hong Kong's Basic Law provides that the "ultimate aim" is to select the Chief Executive through "universal suffrage."

Mass rallies started in September last year, attracting crowds of protesters who occupied roads in Hong Kong's three key areas. Protests sites were eventually demolished by the police in December.