Guest Comments by Au Yeung Chi Fei
The writer represents the Civic Party, a political group at the forefront in Hong Kong’s long battle for universal suffrage.
HONG KONG -- Some legislators say the interpretation of “universal suffrage” is up to Beijing.
The local government’s chief secretary for administration Henry Tang challenged a caller on a radio phone-in show to specify which article of the Basic Law says the undemocratic functional constituencies must be abolished.
Rao Geping, a member of the Basic Law Committee, says that functional constituencies are compatible with universal suffrage.
The Civic Party urges the electorate of Hong Kong to wake up before the meaning of “universal suffrage” is reinterpreted to deprive us of our democratic rights. There is only one true meaning of “universal suffrage”, one that we hold in our hearts and minds. We’ll recognize any fakes that our political masters try to foist upon us.
True universal suffrage doesn’t allow for restrictions on the rights to vote or to stand for election based on any discrimination. It recognizes the inherent dignity of each person, rich or poor. We can’t have social harmony if some voices mean more than others when it comes to ballot boxes and choosing legislators or a chief executive.
The meaning and ultimate aim of “universal suffrage” can’t be adjusted to rob Hong Kong people of their rights.
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