It is not the right way for people to pursue universal suffrage by threatening to occupy and obstruct Central district, Liberal Party legislator Tommy Cheung contends.

While advocates of the "Occupy Central" movement claim their rally is intended to be non-violent and participants will not resist police arrest, Cheung argues the fact that an assembly is non-violent doesn't necessarily make it lawful. Obviously the demonstrators will be breaking the law if they block roads and obstruct traffic.

"The Liberal Party and the business sector oppose Occupy Central because the effort will harm the economy," he told China Daily. He cited in particular the catering, financial, retail and transport sectors, saying they are opposed to the protest because it will affect their business.

"People can pursue universal suffrage but they should not harm the economy. They should not threaten to paralyze the economy just because you know it will hit the government where it hurts the most.

"Foreign investors have strong confidence in Hong Kong as a free economy. If the economy falters, they will turn away. In Hong Kong, rents are high and wages are not low. If Central is occupied, we can no longer do business," he grumbled.

Cheung also wonders if the organizers of the protest have any alternative targets if the occupation fails to achieve the results they are hoping for.

"What is your next target, the railway station, the airport, if you do not win the type of universal suffrage that you want after the occupation?"

"Occupy Central is in my opinion an unlawful assembly. They clearly know this is illegal if that many people get together and block traffic although they claim it is a peaceful gathering. Non-violence and non-resistance don't mean the gathering is a lawful assembly.

"I am very worried about the present political climate in Hong Kong. That is not the way to pursue universal suffrage - by harming the economy, without regard to the consequences and the overall interests of Hong Kong," he asserted.

Cheung also accuses the promoters of inciting young people to commit crimes. Whilst adults are responsible for their own behavior, he fears the young people will risk their future if they are arrested in the rally and then prosecuted.

"Some potential joiners claim they are prepared to go to jail or give up their professional status as lawyers," Cheung noticed.

"They are old enough but the young people still have a very long way to go. If they bear a criminal record, their chance of going abroad for immigration or further studies will be seriously hampered."

On the question of the Chief Executive election by universal suffrage in 2017, Cheung says the Liberal Party backs an early public consultation on the electoral method.

"We will be running out of time. If the government commences public consultation in the first quarter of 2014, we can only have a blue bill ready in 2015. We may not have sufficient time to examine the bill, knowing the current legislative term will expire in July 2016.

"We don't want the 2017 CE election method to stand still. If it stands still, it will be a very serious setback for Hong Kong because it means universal suffrage will not happen," he declared.

(HK Edition 09/20/2013 page8)