Beijing tells Hong Kong delegates they can speak about Occupy, but must be careful about what they say
Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Hong Kong delegates to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) can "say freely whatever they want" but they must not call for Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to resign or criticise the government in a manner that is not "constructive", Yu Zhengsheng, CPPCC president and fourth highest ranking official in China, is quoted as saying with regards to the vote of no confidence against James Tien Pei-chun, leader of the Liberal Party.
Tien is a Member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council of the former British colony and a member of the CPPCC.
In recent days, the politician - usually considered to be pro-Beijing - spoke out against Leung calling for him to consider resigning in view of his handling of the ongoing political crisis in Hong Kong.
Because of his position, Tien was expelled by secret ballot by the advisory body. "Oppositional voices shouldn't be made public," Yu said.
Before only members found guilty of corruption were removed from office.
For the past month, the pro-democracy Occupy Central movement and the Hong Kong Federation of students have been publicly protesting against Beijing's proposed electoral reform for the Special Administrative Region (SAR).
Protesters are demanding real democratic elections and reject mainland China's proposal that it would designate the candidates for the post of chief executive.
Their demands are within the limits set by the agreement signed before Hong Kong's return to mainland China, giving residents full democracy by 2017.
At the end of August 2014, the National People's Congress adopted a reform proposal that thwarts that goal. Since then, Hongkongers have taken to the streets against the decision.
"In March, we passed a resolution . . . that we would support the Hong Kong SAR government and its chief executive in governing Hong Kong in accordance with the law. Yu said Tien asked publicly for the chief executive to resign - that violated the resolution," said standing committee insider Chan Wing-kee.
However, "Chairman Yu also made it clear that . . . it doesn't mean that [a delegate] cannot criticise the chief executive - otherwise, it means there is no democracy . . . [But delegates] must criticise constructively," Chan added.
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