Occupy Central: for or against?

Opponents of Occupy Central fear that a mass campaign of civil disobedience would create chaos in the city, destroying Hong Kong’s image and status as an international financial centre. They believe that democracy should be reached in a gradual manner in accordance with the Basic Law. Supporters of Occupy Central believe that civil disobedience is the only means left to pressure the Hong Kong and Central governments to listen to Hongkongers’ desire for genuine universal suffrage – where a chief executive could be elected without first being screened by Beijing.

As pan-democrats are the minority in Legco, some “radical” democrats engage in filibustering in attempt to prevent specific government legislation from being passed by lawmakers. Filibustering tactics include making hundreds of suggested amendments, repeatedly requesting attendance counts, and so on.

The Basic Law is the constitutional document of Hong Kong. Drafted by the Drafting Committee for the Basic Law, which was composed of both Hongkongers and officials from China’s Central government, the Basic Law was formally implemented when Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997. Article 45 of the Basic Law states that the chief executive of Hong Kong should be “selected by election or through consultations held locally and be appointed by the Central People's Government”. It also states that “the ultimate aim is the selection of the chief executive by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures”.

Under a decision by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee on August 31, 2014, only two or three candidates will be allowed to stand for the 2017 chief executive election, with candidates requiring at least 50 per cent support from the 1,200 member nominating committee. After the two or three nominees are selected, Hongkongers will be able to elect their chief executive by “one person, one vote”.

There are currently 70 Legislative members in the Legislative Council (Legco): 43 pro-Beijing and 27 pan-democratic members. Thus, the government needs the votes of at least five pan-democratic lawmakers to secure a two-thirds majority – or 47 votes – in Legco for its reforms to launch the first “one person, one vote” chief executive election.