2007-12-28
Over the past two decades the Hong Kong People have been striving for Universal Suffrage.
The NPC Standing Committee will soon issue its decision on the HKSAR Government’s Report
on Constitutional Reform.
If the Standing Committee is to act against the People’s will to reject
universal suffrage for 2012 and yet refuses to commit to 2016/2017, this is in effect paving the
way for further procrastination and further delay. The heavy cost of this indecision will soon
weigh on the shoulders of the Hong Kong people.
In the past decade, we have witnessed a series of blunders in many policy areas – economic,
poverty, environment, education, public health, planning and conservation. We have seen
opportunities missed, and problems unresolved – these are not coincidences. The root of the
problem stems from an electoral system that lacks competition of ideas and policies, and an
outdated political system that favours special interests with their claws dragging us backwards,
stalling progress.
As professionals, we do not want to see the Hong Kong SAR retracing the same steps for
another decade. When a government lacks credibility and no longer commands the respect
of its citizens, the society will lose direction and the government will run from one crisis to
another.
We hereby appeal to the Standing Committee and the HKSAR Government: Please do not harm
the Hong Kong People’s interest and stall the Nation’s progress by allowing the current system
in Hong Kong to continue. Please consider the matter from a historical perspective. Respect the
wishes of the Hong Kong People and honour your duty to the Nation.
This is our sincere hope: A giant with immense power ought to see the light of morality
and justice rather than cave in to the fear of a dwarf.
The Professional Commons
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