Hong Kong faces suffrage test

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying announced in October the establishment of a "Task Force on Constitutional Development", which will launch public consultations on reforms for the Legislative Council (LegCo) election in 2016 and the Chief Executive (CE) election in 2017. The people of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are expected to experience their "constitutional moment" next year when the shape of the future political system of Hong Kong will be decided.

Hong Kong's Basic Law, which not only regulates the relationship between the SAR and the central government in Beijing but also provides for the formation and operation of the Hong Kong government, stipulates that the ultimate aim in the evolution of Hong Kong's political system is the election of the CE and of all members of LegCo by universal suffrage. In December 2007, the National People's Congress Standing Committee set the timetable for the realization of this ultimate aim: the CE may be elected by universal suffrage in 2017, and thereafter the whole of LegCo may also be so elected.

It is important to note, however, that the NPC Standing Committee's 2007 decision does not automatically mean that the CE will definitely be elected by universal suffrage in 2017.