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2nd Ld-Writethru: NPC says universal suffrage to stand

Xinhua, June 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

China's top legislature said its decision on Hong Kong's electoral reforms made last August will remain in force, hours after Hong Kong legislators torpedoed a motion to elect the island's next leader by public vote.

"Although the universal suffrage motion was not passed by the legislative council this time, the direction towards universal suffrage and the legal principles laid down in the decision of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, must continue to be upheld," read a statement from the office of the NPC Standing Committee. The statement came just hours after the motion on selecting the next chief executive in 2017 was voted down.

"The decision shall continue to serve as the constitutional ground for Hong Kong as it enforces universal suffrage in the chief executive election and its legal force is unquestionable," it read.

The statement was referring to a NPC decision which stipulates that Hong Kong voters would elect a new leader in 2017, from candidates picked by a 1,200-member nominating committee. The chief executive-elect shall have to be endorsed by the central government. The decision stressed that the chief executive has to be a person who "loves the country and loves Hong Kong."

The motion had provided a means for a "one man, one vote" election in Hong Kong, and a small number of lawmakers had stubbornly chosen to oppose the central government and disregard the wishes of the Hong Kong people. They have "denigrated decisions made by the central authorities, spared no efforts in blocking the universal suffrage motion, and reduced Hong Kong's democratic development to a standstill," the statement read.

"They stood in the way of Hong Kong's democratic development and undermined Hong Kong's prosperity and stability for their own personal gain," it continued.

The statement said enforcing universal suffrage in HKSAR's chief executive election is a constitutional responsibility for both the NPC Standing Committee, the SAR government and the legislative council.

The NPC will adhere to the principle of "one country, two systems", and implement the NPC Standing Committee decision, it said.

"Whatever interference and obstacles (we may face, we) will do our work in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic law, and push forward Hong Kong's democratic development," the statement read. Endi