20140828 Standard_Lawmakers get room to maneuver in poll details

How to select members of the 1,200-strong nominating committee for the 2017 chief executive election and introduce more democratic elements in the body will be dealt with during the legislative process in Hong Kong, it emerged last night.

The size and other details of the committee is included in the draft framework for Hong Kong's political reform in the 2017 election presented yesterday to the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

The committee will vote on it on Sunday.

A source said key procedures for the election include setting the number of nominating committee members at 1,200, with reference made to the composition of four sectors in the Election Committee. These sectors are business, professional services, labor and political.

The size of the nominating committee remains at 1,200 instead of 1,600 as some had suggested because there was no heated dispute over it, the source said.

The method for selecting committee members and how to increase democratic elements would be dealt with during legislation to amend the methods for selecting the chief executive, the source added.

Meanwhile, NPC chairman Zhang Dejiang told deputies that the central government expects "something will happen" in Hong Kong after the NPC officially announces the reform framework on Sunday.

Local NPC deputy Ng Chau-pei quoted Zhang as saying this when he attended one of the panel discussions on Tuesday.

Ng said Zhang did not say whether he was referring to Occupy C

entral but said the country, the central government and the Standing Committee are "psychologically prepared" for any incidents.

Fellow delegate Ma Fung-kwok said the draft is not yet the final resolution.

Another deputy, Cheng Yiu-tong, said Beijing's stance has remained unchanged.

For his part, deputy Wong Yau-kar said the Standing Committee needs to consider whether pan-democratic lawmakers will support the reform proposal as a two-thirds majority is needed.

NPC deputy Ip Kwok-him said he could not reveal the content of the draft, which runs to 12 pages.

Standing Committee legislative affairs commission vice- chairman Zhang Rongshun said Beijing's white paper refers to how the central government should "govern" Hong Kong instead of "ignoring" it.http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=148884&sid=42881739&con_type=3