China’s most senior official in Hong Kong said today the city should shift its focus away from worrying about political reform and concentrate instead on economic development and improving people’s livelihoods.
Zhang Xiaoming, the head of China’s Liaison Office in the Asian financial centre, was speaking nearly two weeks after Hong Kong’s legislature rejected a Beijing-backed electoral reform package in a dramatic vote.
The rejection was a rare instance of Hong Kong, a former British colony that reverted to Chinese rule in 1997, voting so heavily against a proposal endorsed by Beijing.
“The whole society should make concerted efforts to support the SAR government in shifting the focus to developing the economy, improving people’s livelihood and promoting social harmony,” said Zhang.
“From today, I will shut up and refrain from talking about political reform issues on public occasions,” added Zhang, who was speaking at a Chinese General Chamber of Commerce event in Hong Kong.
His comments echoed those of Hong Kong leader CY Leung, who emphasized after the reform proposal was vetoed the need for the city to focus on economic stability.
On June 18, only 37 of the 70 members of the Legislative Council were present when the vote on the electoral blueprint took place. Of these, 28 legislators voted against the proposal and just eight voted in favor. One did not cast a vote.
In a sign of lingering tensions, Beijing supporters and pro-democracy activists clashed in scuffles late on Sunday, forcing police to separate the two groups.
Words: Reuters
Photo: デニス モジョ via Flickr
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