Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on Tuesday has rejected calls to engage in a televised debate on the city’s ongoing political reform. 

The idea was floated by Albert Chen Hung-yee, a leading legal scholar at the University of Hong Kong, who proposed that officials and politicians should hold such debates to help the community make an informed decision on whether to support the government's electoral reform package.

Leung said on Tuesday that such a debate will not affect the fundamental differences between the government and pan-democrats over the concept of civic nomination which does not comply with the Basic Law.

He added that the idea of holding a televised debate had won little support from both the public and politicians over the past few days.

Christopher Chung Shu-kun, a local legislator also agrees that it is unnecessary to hold a televised debate because the model of the 2017 chief executive election, which was based on the Basic Law and the central government’s decision on August 31, 2014, has already been set.

“The government has held two round of consultation on constitutional reform since 2014 and that was long enough for public to voice their opinions,” he said.

The second consultation ended earlier this month. A political reform proposal is expected to be released in April.
The proposal of pan-democratic politicians for a civic nomination which would allow voters and political parties to recommend candidates for the 2017 chief executive election was inconsistent with the Basic Law.

Meanwhile, Leung has responded to media inquiries on whether he will seek a second term. 

“I don’t rule out the possibility,” he said, adding that he would devote his efforts to his work as chief executive and implement his 2012 manifesto in the meantime.

Global Times