Hong Kong group Left21 has strongly condemned the framework approved by the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee for the election of the Chief Executive in 2017 for its ignoring of citizens’ aspirations for universal suffrage according to ‘one person, one vote’ and for its failure to consider Hong Kong’s 3.86 million workers. The NPC’s framework requires candidates for Chief Executive to be nominated by a 1200 person nomination committee, maintaining its existing structure which is heavily skewed towards business and in terms of political interests, and only allows 2-3 candidates to run.
In their statement, Left21 state that although the NPC has claimed that the decision was made in accordance to the Basic Law's provisions, the Basic Law itself has problems in that it was also drafted by a limited number of appointed members and many of its provisions are in the interests of capital while people’s livelihoods are neglected. Clause 107 requires the HK government maintain a balanced fiscal budget, while Clause 108 requires a low tax policy. It is these problems that explain why people’s livelihoods have been seriously eroded since then.
The statement goes on to argue that the Communist Party’s concern with “national security” is not referring to people living peaceful stable lives but about ensuring that Party and business bigwigs can continue to monopolise political and economic power. It points to problems in China, including environmental problems, such as water and air pollution, food safety issues, the lack of the right to strike, to freedom of information and to expression, and ask in such a situation what does “national security” mean at all?
The group’s statement concludes by arguing that in the face of the Communist Party’s tough attitude, Hong Kong people should not be fearful, disappointed and discouraged but instead should organise and mobilise the masses to occupy Central, taking direct action to paralyse the political and economic heart of Hong Kong to force the government to respond to public opinion.
