2008年1月31日
星島日報   盈餘千億議員要求「派糖」   曾俊華稱已版當『許願樹』
自由黨劉健儀昨在立法會提出動議，促請政府善用巨大盈餘，與全港市民分享經濟成果。她建議曾俊華在下月預算案退還薪俸稅五成，不少於一萬五千元，擴闊薪俸稅稅階及調減邊際稅率、調升醫療券金額和加快基建等十項建議。民協馮檢基、民主黨涂謹申、公民黨張超雄、工聯會王國興、民建聯陳檻林、自由黨周梁淑怡及醫學界郭家麒共七人提出修訂。其中只有郭家麒的修訂獲通過。民協馮檢基表示，近日物價高升，不少長者表示今年年關特別難過，促請當局正視貧富懸殊，建議放寬申領高齡津貼的離港期限及資產限額，及增加資助安老宿位。王國興認為，庫房水浸，政府有道義上的責任去照顧民生，而且政府欠市民的錢，需要償還。

天水圍東涌盼建醫院

陳檻林認為，有關建議必須切實可行，既不會帶來長遠的負擔，又可照顧低下階層及社會的遠利益。他建議將供樓利息的扣稅期限由現時的十年延長至十五年，上限為一萬二千元，又建議預留款項盡快在天水圍和東涌興建醫院。民主黨涂謹申就倡議撥出五百億，成立高齡人口基金，應付長遠人口老化及醫療融資的問題。金融服務界的詹培忠提出另類建議，表示政府可向七百萬市民每人派一萬元，合共七百萬，皆大歡喜。

曾俊華回應指，財政盈餘較原先預計的二百五十億高，雖然有說法股市暢旺，經濟復甦，但須居安思危，積穀防饑，審慎理財。他又說，政府會詳細研究減稅退梲建議，積極考慮回應社會訴求，但須考慮香港稅基狹窄，有關建議會影響收入的穩定性。

 

南華早報   SCMP    No need for NPC office
Tsang Hin-chi, Hong Kong's representative on the National People's Congress Standing Committee, has dismissed calls for an office for local NPC deputies.

The suggestion has come from some of the newly elected deputies who will take over from Mr Tsang and his colleagues in March.

How can the central government ask for a lower government's permission to set up an office here? Mr Tsang asked.

He said NPC deputies should not interfere with government affairs in Hong Kong since the city and mainland had different legislative systems.

Mr Tsang also said there was no need to establish an office to handle public complaints because there were already sufficient channels.

Citizens can send letters to deputies through the central government's liaison office. I myself have received a lot of such letters.

He said those newly elected deputies who had proposed setting up an office have not yet started learning about the national power structure.

However, one of the new deputies, legislator Choy So-yuk of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said a local office for NPC deputies could help improve communication with the public.

She said such office duties should be well defined to avoid any possibility of local deputies rising as a second power centre.

Another new deputy, the vice-chairwoman of the Liberal Party, Miriam Lau Kin-yee, said more discussion was needed.

While she agreed an official office might strengthen communication between deputies and Hongkongers, Ms Lau said there might be other ways to gather public opinion.

 

香港商報    曾憲梓：港無須設人代辦   獻身人大14載無憾無悔
即將退任的人大常委曾憲梓昨日會晤新聞界，回顧過去連任14年人大及常委的工作。他謙稱不能說做出什麼成績，但已盡了最大努力做好分內事。他並就港區人大在港設立辦事處發表個人見解，認為市民已有足夠渠道向中央政府反映意見，因此無需在港設立辦事處。

對於社會有聲音建議港區人大在港設立辦事處，讓市民有投訴的渠道，曾憲梓個人意見認為這是不可行的。他認為，港區人大屬全國人大常委會，是國家中央機構，不應像香港立法會、區議會議員那樣設立辦事處，而人大亦有規條不能干預香港內部事務，市民要反映意見，其實現時已有足夠的收集渠道，他本人亦經常如實向中央政府反映香港各界的意見，包括「反對派」的意見，有喜報喜，有憂報憂，言無不盡，絕不隱瞞。他說，亦可以透過中聯辦等機構向中央傳遞信息。

 

 

2008年1月30日
信報財經新聞     葉劉競選論壇訓練開支25000元
匯賢智庫理事會主席葉劉淑儀昨天遞交立法會港島區補選競選開支申報，選舉期間，名漫畫家兼「玉皇朝」老闆黃玉郎在旗下漫畫刊登葉劉政綱，又撰文呼籲讀者投葉劉一票，當時表示會申報為競選開支的葉劉，最終沒有申報。匯賢發言人表示，葉劉在徵詢律師意見後認為，對黃的舉動事前毫不知情，因此沒有必要申報。　

翻查葉劉遞交的競選申報書發現，她沒有將黃的舉動視為選舉廣告作申報，只申報了一封寄予對方的掛號信，約十四元的郵資費，葉劉在信中聲明對黃的行動毫不知情。公民黨湯家驊認為，相同的情況也發生在獨立議員陳方安生身上，補選投票當天，本港一份報章派發號外，被指有為陳太造勢之嫌，湯家驊強調，若陳太對事件毫不知情及沒有默許，則可以不申報為選舉開支。

 

 

2008年1月29日
 明報   民調：黃仁龍評分跌至新低
中大香港亞太研究所的民調顯示，市民對特區政府表現滿意度大跌6.5 個百分點至27.2%，是2007 年2 月以來最低；律政司長黃仁龍的最新評分為60.3 分，為他上任以來的新低。有學者認為，市民不同意黃仁龍在民間電台案件上的做法，令其評分跌至任內谷底；而「民間電台」及「林建岳超速事件」都有影響政府表現評分。

對於市民認為最能代表自己利益的政黨，民建聯以14%居首，民主黨以12.7%居次，公民黨及自由黨跌至06年1 月以來的新低，分別有4.1%及2.4%，分別跌0.9 及0.4 個百分點。

 

信報財經新聞   律政司啟動民間電台案上訴
律政司已啟動程序，就裁判法院早前指電台發牌機制有違《基本法》的裁決，上訴至高等法院上訴庭，目前正等候民間電台一方同意當局的案件呈述擬稿。立法會議員關注，與行政長官曾蔭權關係密切的獨立議員鄭經翰成立的新電台會否獲發牌照，並認為應該檢討目前的發牌機制。

民間電台早前宣布暫停大氣廣播三個月，昨晚於旺角行人專用區舉辦論壇，並透過互聯網直播。資深大律師公民黨湯家驊指出，目前的《電訊條例》自六十年代制訂以來，從無重大修改，已經過時。他強調，《條例》應列明申請牌照所需條件，和政府可在什麼情況下拒絕發牌，同時應設上訴機制。

湯家驊表示，種種迹象顯示自從二○○四年「名嘴封咪事件」之後，大部分傳媒即使不是被政府箝制，就是更加自我審查。他指出，以今天的技術而言，各電台毋須佔有大量頻道，但政府拒絕提供資源供香港電台更新器材，具政治目的，律政司司長黃仁龍將「法庭放上枱」，更使法庭與爭取民主和人權對立。

 

英文虎報   The Standard   Tsang mounts clone defense on suffrage
The procedures and institutions to be put in place for universal suffrage in Hong Kong has to be workable, pragmatic and compatible, and should not be cloned from other countries, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said yesterday.

In response to the European Union's expression of disappointment at the delay in implementing universal suffrage in Hong Kong, Tsang told the Kuwait Times it is a matter between the people of Hong Kong and Beijing.

``It is not something which can be imposed from overseas, in much the same way the Gulf states would not want their constitutional changes to be imposed by foreign countries,'' he said.

Tsang said elections by universal suffrage in 2017 for the chief executive and 2020 for the Legislative Council is a good timetable and that the people of Hong Kong are happy with it.

``Universal suffrage is not a fixed model that you can impose or clone; it must be a `home-grown' one and we must decide for ourselves. And we have to be careful in doing so, to ensure that we have the right model for ourselves.''

He stressed constitutional changes should not be decided by others as every society has its own history, which is why there are different models of universal suffrage.

``We have a colonial history where democracy came in rather late in the day. This has to be nurtured and we have to be patient to get it right,'' he said.

 

大公報   特首指普選須符港情況
正在科威特推介本港伊斯蘭金融市場的行政長官曾蔭權接受當地報章訪問，當被問及歐盟對本港未能在二○一二年推行普選而感到失望時，他回應指出，實施普選是香港與中國之間的內政問題，並非外國強加於香港的事。

曾蔭權表示，有關本港實施普選的大部分問題已經解決，並且訂出在二○一七年和二○二○年普選行政長官和立法會。這是一個很好的時間表，大學民調亦顯示多達七成人滿意有關安排。他指出，雖然香港經歷過殖民統治，民主發展起步較遲，但普選並非只有一個固定模式，必須根據每個地方的不同特點而設計，不可以照搬其他地方的模式。他說，港人要謹慎選擇最適合的政治模式；既要獲得廣泛認同，亦要可行和實際，切合香港的情況。

 

明報   黨派派錢倡議愈叫愈多
立法會明日討論「全民分享經濟成果」議案，面對政府今年度財政盈餘相信高達千億元，各黨派紛紛提出修訂，提出「派錢」建議，除了退稅、減稅、免差餉外，亦建議多項針對紓緩長者財政壓力的措施，包括增加生果金、醫療券金額、安老院宿位等。

多個黨派對議案提出修訂，工聯會王國興和民建聯陳鑑林更將議案中的建議增至23 項。民主黨重提設立500億元高齡人口基金的建議，公民黨則建議增加購買醫療保險免稅額、增加長者生果金及綜援金額等。

 

 

2008年1月28日
 明報    李鵬飛批泛民散沙促組成一政黨
去年獲泛民主派支持、當選立法會議員的陳方安生，前日在有線節目《飛常政經》訪問中指並非所有泛民成員都推動民主。

公民黨湯家驊表示，不知道陳太所指的是誰，但相信陳太是感受到做民主派議員的難處，尤其是在議會內很難推動民主議題，所以他在參選時已對陳太說，最重要是發揮在議會外的空間。

對於李鵬飛建議泛民整合成一個政黨，湯家驊說，公民黨現在和民主黨合作得很好，大部分的工作都是兩黨分工和牽頭，「當有一個共同目標，有兩把聲音會比一把聲音有力，我從來覺得聯盟方式，好過二合為一的做法」。

 

星島日報     劉銳紹倡雙普選變「三普選」
時事評論員劉銳紹昨日出席電台節目時建議，擴大現時港區人大代表選舉會議成員人數，並指參選人應向選委以外人士發表參選政綱，以教育更多市民認識人大功能，甚至推行「三普選」，即特首、立法會和港區人代。

擴大港區人代認受性

時事評論員劉銳紹表示肯定應屆人大代表的年輕化及專業化，認為須在未來五年提高人大代表在港認受性。他指出在國內院級以下選舉亦是一人一票選舉產生，港區人大代表的選民基礎也應擴大。

劉銳紹指，「我們現在是說雙普選，能不能『三普選』呢？」劉銳紹指今屆選舉會議成員人數擴張至一千二百三十四人，人數應該可以再進一步擴大，藉此提升人大代表認受性。

四名泛民主派參選人全落敗，馮檢基稱落敗也是意料中事，參選港區人大是泛民的權利及義務，參選亦反映出人大可容納不同的參選人，顯示內地朝向開放。

 

南華早報    SCMP   New NPC deputies reject democracy call
Hong Kong deputies newly elected to the National People's Congress have rejected calls urging them to push for the establishment of a one-person, one-vote system for choosing future deputies to the state legislature.

Speaking at RTHK's City Forum yesterday, China watcher Johnny Lau Yui-siu challenged the deputies to help enfranchise all Hong Kong people to vote in NPC elections in future.

"Only 1,000-plus people are allowed to vote now, but all people should have the right to vote," Mr Lau said. "The pan-democrats have been fighting for dual universal suffrage. Why can't we have triple universal suffrage?"

Although the deputies have no power over Hong Kong affairs under the "one country, two systems" principle, Mr Lau said he believed they could still enhance their public recognition by organising seminars on socio-economic affairs in Hong Kong.

Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood legislator Frederick Fung Kin-kee, who was defeated in the polls, was critical of the election because pan-democrats had not been welcome to stand.

He said before polling day on Friday, the media had already reported that only 40 of the 50 contestants were considered "real" candidates by mainland authorities. "As a result, organisers of election forums just invited the 40 preferred candidates. Only four of the 17 election forums invited pan-democrat candidates."

Ip Kwok-him, a vice-chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, who was re-elected to the state legislature, remained non-committal on universal suffrage for NPC elections. He questioned whether the community knew what deputies did.

"I think we should first enhance public understanding of our work," he said.

But he agreed the number of voters should continue to expand in future elections.

Liberal Party vice-chairwoman Miriam Lau Kin-yee, one of 13 new NPC deputies, said deputies could discuss future election models among themselves.

 

 

2008年 1 月27日
星島日報   陳太反擊曾德成「忽然官腔」
立法會議員陳方安生上月首次出席會議發言時，被民政事務局局長曾德成批評她「忽然民主民然民生」。陳太昨日作出反擊，指曾德成加入政府擺出官腔態度，「是否又是忽然官腔呢？」她又否認自己在二○一二年雙普選上讓步，並建議特首曾蔭權應與四大政黨磋商未來政制發展。

當選立法會議員一個多月的陳太，昨日接受李鵬飛訪問，提到曾德成指她「忽然民主」，陳太表示此說法是亂扣帽子，對此感到莫明其妙和無聊，「現在特首都講民主，說推動二○一七年普選，難道又說他忽然民主？曾局長加入了政府，擺起官腔態度，是否又是忽然官腔呢？」

陳太近日表示要務實討論二○一七年普選安排，她否認這是妥協，「但人大否決了(二○一二年雙普選)亦是一個客觀事實，二○一七、二○二○普選仍有很多功夫去做，要務實去想如何達致真普選。」她認為，特首曾蔭權應有誠意與四大政黨商討未來政制發展，建議可先閉門商討才再公開討論。

 

 

2008年 1 月26日
大公報     港區36名人大代表昨選出   13新血盡專業精英   范太史美倫馬逢國得票列三甲
三十六位港區第十一屆全國人大代表昨日誕生。二十三位第十屆代表成功連任，另外十三位政商及專業界精英人士也成功當選，為港區人大注入「新血」。立法會主席范徐麗泰、行政會議成員史美倫和藝發局主席馬逢國，分別成為頭三位得票最多的港區人大代表。

港區第十一屆全國人民代表大會代表選舉會議昨日舉行，共有一千一百六十九位選舉會議成員投票，選出三十六位港區人大代表。今屆選舉有二十五位新人參選，其中十三人成功晉身港區人大代表的行列，佔港區代表總人數超過三分之一，這批新人的當選，相信會為港區人大帶來一番新氣象。

第十一屆港區人大代表中有逾四分之一人是女性也是今次選舉的另一特色。第十屆港區人大代表只有六位女性成員，今屆選舉增加了史美倫、蔡素玉、劉健儀和羅范椒芬四位女性成員。

另外，四位代表反對派參選的候選人則「全軍覆沒」，民主黨立法會議員涂謹申僅取得一百七十票，民協前主席馮檢基也只能取得二百六十六票，反映他們未能得到大部分選舉會議成員的支持。

 

南華早報     SCMP  13 first-time deputies join NPC contingent
Pan-democrats use their minority to block some rivals for seats in national parliament

The election of 13 first-time deputies brought fresh faces to Hong Kong's 36-strong contingent to the National People's Congress, and although the pan-democrats were in the minority on the election panel, the outcome shows they had some influence on the choices.

Several prominent figures were among the newcomers picked for the state legislature. Of the 1,231-member election panel, 1,169 voted.

Four pan-democrats and six other, less well-known contestants were defeated by wide margins. However, the pan-democratic camp's ballots are believed to have decided the fate of several candidates.

"The more than 100 votes held by pan-democrats were influential. Some of those extremely loathsome individuals whose opinions disgust Hong Kong citizens have failed to be elected," said defeated candidate and Democratic Party legislator James To Kun-sun. He did not say who he was talking about, but added that the camp's votes had helped decide where one or two seats went.

"Pan-democratic electors preferred to cast their votes for new faces as they have a better image," said another legislator and election panel member, Albert Cheng King-hon. Pan-democrats wanted to offer opportunities to new faces who were professionals, he said.

 

信報財經新聞     歐盟對2017普選表失望
回應人大常委會去年年底就二○一七年普選行政長官的決定，歐洲聯盟理事會昨天發表聲明表示，對於獲大多數港人支持的二○一二雙普選遭否決，表示失望，但歡迎行政長官曾蔭權為民主進程定下時間表，並促請有關政黨能以更民主的二○一二年選舉辦法為目標達成共識，推動香港在有關時間表內達致符合國際標準的雙普選。

政制及內地事務發言人重申，人大常委會在二○○七年十二月二十九日所作的《決定》，明確了達致普選的時間表，亦訂明了二○一二年兩個選舉辦法可作出適當修改，特區政府將致力按照《基本法》達致普選。

發言人強調，按照《基本法》實行普選是特區的內部事務，特區政府及中央將按照《基本法》處理有關事宜，希望並相信外國政府繼續尊重這個原則。

 

 

2008年1月25日
南華早報    SCMP    Pan-democrats sure of winning 25 seats
Civic Party legislator Ronny Tong Ka-wah is confident the pan- democratic camp will secure 25 seats to maintain its influence in the Legislative Council in September's election.

Key parties in the pan-democratic camp have already started to co- ordinate their lineups for the   contest, to minimise clashes.

It is unclear if Anson Chan Fang On-sang, who took a seat from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong in the Hong Kong Island by-election last month, will seek re-election.

Mr Tong conceded that Mrs Chan's decision whether to run would have an impact on the pan-democrats' lineup.

But I think we will be able to keep 25 seats in Legco, he said.

The pan-democratic camp won 25 of the 60 seats in the Legco election in 2004.

 

星島日報     扣除三十熱門及民主派   吳康民：十人爭六席
港區全國人大代表選舉今天舉行，五十名候選人爭取三十六個議席。擔任人大三十三年，決定不再角逐連任的吳康民認為，現任的人代及部分新人共三十人應順利當選，民主派及欠知名度人士共十人相信不獲支持，餘下十人角逐六席。

吳康民接受訪問時指出，人大地位有如外國國會般崇高，進入人大建制，雖不是有真正實權，能在北京政壇活躍及打通人際網絡，對個人在政治及生意上發展有莫大好處。他說，隨着中國未來的政治及經濟日益強大，愈來愈吸引政商界重量級人物參選，例如中總、廠商會會長及行政會議成員等。他亦寄望今屆人代提升議政能力 及向市民交代工作，冀今屆之內中央在港設立辦事處。

他形容今屆參選人「做騷的少，真正爭位的多」，有人覺得自己不夠斤両早已知難而退。對於坊間傳聞有一份四十人的必選名單，他則認為，有沒有名單亦不重要，稍有政治觸覺都知道有十個無法當選。

 

南華早報    SCMP    Pan-democrats unable to take unified stand over NPC vote
Electors from pan-democratic parties will not vote in unison in the election of Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress today because of constraints of the voting system.

The camp, which has four contestants running in the election for 36 local NPC deputies, has tried to compile a recommended list of candidates for its electors' reference.

Our party has been trying to make a 36-person list or some guidelines for choosing candidates, said Civic Party legislator Ronny Tong Ka-wah. But in the end we found there were fewer than 10 candidates who met our criteria.

Regulations require each person on the 1,231-member election panel to choose exactly 36 candidates. Any more or fewer checks would make the ballots void.

Mr Tong said he expected some of his fellow party members would not vote at all because they did not want to be forced to support candidates of whom they did not approve.

Democratic Party vice-chairman Sin Chung-kai said his party also did not have a list of which candidates its members should vote for.

We do have some criteria. But even if there are not enough candidates meeting them, you still need to vote, he said.

Mr Sin said he hoped each of the two contenders from his party, James To Kun-sun and Mak Hoi-wah, would fare better than in the Democrats' previous attempt in 2002 and obtain more than 70 votes.

 

蘋果日報    港大民調立會10大議員  陳太季軍 范徐麗泰蟬聯冠軍 田北俊第二
前任政務司司長陳方安生去年循立法會港島區補選勝出後，最新的民意調查顯示，陳太迅速進佔十大議員榜季軍位置。香港大學民意研究計劃本月16至18日向1,022位市民進行的調查顯示，立法會主席范徐麗泰依舊成為民望最高的議員，評分為65.5分；自由黨主席田北俊以55.3分位列第二；首次入榜的陳太則以55.1分屈居季軍。以上調查顯示，十大議員中，除了田北俊及陳太，其餘議員評分較三個月前同類調查下跌。

……  排名：1議員：立法會主席范徐麗泰16-18/1/08：65.5與三個月前評分變化（上次排名）：↓2.4（1）排名：2議員：自由黨主席田北俊16-18/1/08： 55.3與三個月前評分變化（上次排名）：無變化（5）排名：3議員：獨立議員陳方安生16-18/1/08：55.1與三個月前評分變化（上次排名）： 首次入榜排名：4議員：自由黨副主席周梁淑怡16-18/1/08：52.6與三個月前評分變化（上次排名）：↓6.1（4）排名：5議員：職工盟李卓人 16-18/1/08：52.4與三個月前評分變化（上次排名）：↓2.7（6）排名：6議員：民主黨主席何俊仁16-18/1/08：50.9與三個月 前評分變化（上次排名）：↓5.5（新入十大榜）排名：7議員：民建聯前主席曾鈺成16-18/1/08：49.7與三個月前評分變化（上次排名）： ↓3.2（7）排名：8議員：民主黨前主席李柱銘16-18/1/08：45.8與三個月前評分變化（上次排名）：↓3.9（9）排名：9議員：前綫劉慧卿16-18/1/08：45.5與三個月前評分變化（上次排名）：↓4.8（8）排名：10議員：四五行動梁國雄16-18/1/08：30.2與三個 月前評分變化（上次排名）：↓3.4（10）資料來源：港大民意研究計劃

 

 

2008年1月24日
英文虎報  The Standard     Legislators trade stories of election violence
Charges and counter-charges on election violence and intimidation were traded on the floor of the Legislative Council yesterday.

But in the end Civic Party leader Audrey Eu Yuet-mee's motion to call on the government to improve regulations to ensure fair elections was adopted by a show of hands.

Both the pro-government and pro-democratic camps traded accusations of numerous instances of misconduct in last year's District Council election and the Legco by-election.

 

星島日報     區內中產成潛在支持者   田北俊：考慮派人參選九西
踏入○八年，各個政黨都開始為九月的立法會改 選作部署。自由黨主席田北俊表示，該黨的目標，是在來屆最少繼續奪取八個功能組別、兩個直選的席位。在分區直選方面，除了新界東及新界西外，他認為港島區及九龍西區都可以考慮派員參選，他指九龍西近年多了不少中產家庭進駐，這些中產人士相信是自由黨和公民黨的潛在選民。而最有可能代表自由黨出戰分區直選 的，是現任議員劉健儀。

根據最新的議席分布，九龍西選區的議席在下一屆會增加一席至五席，各黨派都覬覦這新增一席，公民黨的毛孟靜、社民連主席黃毓民、民主黨副主席單仲楷及新當選區議員的城大副教授梁美芬，都盛傳會出選，再加上自由黨亦考慮加入戰團，令這個選區的戰情「七國咁亂」，充滿變數。

 

 

2008年1月23日
蘋果日報     策發會現只談2012選舉方案
正當泛民主派期望透過參與下月的策發會政改討論，要求政府交代終極普選方案的細節，中央政策組首席顧問劉兆佳昨日表示，有關要求是「太過不切實際」，因為目前仍未具備條件進行討論。劉又認為，政府是否清楚交代2017年普選特首和2020年普選立法會的安排，與2012年的政改方案能否獲立法會通過「無必然關係」。有泛民議員批評，劉的言論反映特首曾蔭權的終極方案其實只是「普選假貨」。劉兆佳昨日出席策發會討論國民教育的小組會議前，被問及政府應否按泛民要求，在推出2012年政改方案同時，交代2017年普選特首和2020年普選立法會「終極方案」的細節時說：「理論上我哋唔贊成，現階段嚟講，我哋應該集中討論2012年嘅安排。」

 

星島日報     精美宣傳單張媲美直選   人大候選人連趕17場拉票
港區人大代表選舉將於本周五舉行，候選人忙於到不同的「票倉」拉票，身兼行政會議成員的陳智思更透露，連日來共趕赴十七場大大小小的諮詢會拉票。為了打動選舉會議成員，各候選人精心製作宣傳單張，范徐麗泰附上心形宣傳光碟，李宗德印製八達通卡套，史美倫、羅范椒芬和梁劉柔芬更被評為最佳照片。

今屆港區人代選舉有五十名候選人，爭取三十六個席位，昨日候選人都馬不停蹄出席由鄉議局、民建聯和公共專業聯盟舉辦的三場論壇，其中兩名身兼行政會議成員的候選人查史美倫及陳智思，在早上行會會議完結後亦匆匆趕赴鄉議局的論壇。民主派四名候選人只獲邀出席公共專業聯盟的論壇。陳智思在出席民建聯的論壇後說，連日來共要出席十七個大大小小的論壇，留意即使選委人數不多的論壇，候選人亦願意出席，反映戰況相當激烈。不過，民主黨涂謹申認為，部分論壇拒絕民主派出席並不公平。

 

 

2008年1月22日
蘋果日報     趁立會人少忽動議支持人大政改決定   民建聯反口突襲成功
民建聯昨日在立法會政制事務委員會會議突襲泛民主派，反口提出該黨主席譚耀宗聲稱不會提出，指立法會支持人大常委會政改決定的動議。由於事出突然，已提早離開會場的保皇派議員石禮謙，不惜穿上短褲趕回議事廳投票。有泛民議員批評，左派今次突襲是想建構整個立法會均支持人大決定的假象，藉此向中央表達忠誠。

保皇派紛紛趕回

立法會政制事務委員會昨日就人大常委會否決2012年雙普選的決定展開討論，民建聯副主席劉江華昨日在會議後段大部份議員已離開議事廳、民主派只餘七名議員在場的情況下，突然提出動議議案，指立法會支持人大常委會政改決定，呼籲社會各界落實2017年普選特首及2020普選立法會。民主黨張文光見狀後即時就議案提出修訂，要求特首曾蔭權向全國人大常委會提交報告，建議香港可在2012年實現雙普選。動議付諸表決之際，多名保皇派議員紛紛趕回議事廳，包括首次身穿短褲出席會議的石禮謙，最後劉江華的動議以20票贊成，7票反對下獲得通過；張文光的修訂在7票贊成，18票反對下遭否決。社民連議員梁國雄提出的另一動議，則被立法會法律顧問指與劉江華的動議內容有衝突，未獲准提出。

 

南華早報    SCMP     Polls consensus urged
A lack of consensus among legislators on 2012 electoral methods could make achieving universal suffrage in 2017 difficult, the constitutional affairs chief has warned.

Speaking at a Legislative Council constitutional affairs panel meeting yesterday, Stephen Lam Sui-lung urged lawmakers to make joint efforts to pass a proposal on the chief executive and Legco election methods in 2012, which could lead to full direct elections in 2017 and 2020.

We hope there will be progress in 2012, said Mr Lam, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs.

If it stalls again, it will make the implementation of universal suffrage in 2017 more difficult. But pan-democrats demanded a clear picture of the ultimate suffrage methods before they could back any proposal on the 2012 elections.

 

星島日報     若相當多人堅持不同日子普選   顧汝德：港府應慎重考慮
人大常委決定二○一七普選特首，但泛民主派依然堅持爭取二○一二普選，末代港督彭定康智囊、前中央政策組首席顧問顧汝德並無正面回應是否支持泛民，但說：「如果有相當多的人士堅持在不同日子普選，特區政府應慎重地考慮。」

顧汝德昨日出席外國記者協會午餐會後，回應普選看法時說，港人爭取普選廿多年，行政長官曾蔭權亦曾承諾要解決問題。對於中央決定在二○一七普選行政長官，會否來得太遲，顧汝德沒有直接回應，但認為可能是基於某些「實際的原因」(practical reason)，致最終決定二○一七普選。

 

 

2008年1月21日
 明報      陳太接受短期妥協促2012 前推真普選方案
立法會議員陳方安生促請特區政府，在2012 年選舉前提交一個已明確獲得中央及港人支持的終極真普選方案。她說，願意以任何行動爭取民主進展，當中包括接受短期妥協去凝聚共識，因為每退後一步，便可能換來前進兩步，但長遠爭取真民主時，就不會妥協。

陳太昨日在港台節目《給香港的信》中表示，就算2012年沒有普選，都應爭取盡快落實真普選，所以出席了上周日（13 日）的泛民大遊行，並重申自己無意與中央及港府對着幹，參與活動只希望藉群眾壓力加快民主進程。

她表示，推動2012 年民主進程的責任不只是市民，特首亦需分擔這個責任，提出一個具民主成分的方案，以及為立法會和社會主要政黨接受的2012 年選舉產生辦法。她希望特首採取開明態度，與泛民成員展開真正的對話，從而設計一張清晰而達國際認可普及平等的真普選路線圖。她呼籲港人團結為爭取2012 年及民主進步上達成共識。

 

南華早報     SCMP     Chan lays down suffrage challenge
Newly elected lawmaker Anson Chan Fang On-sang has challenged Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen to show "true leadership" by tabling a universal suffrage road map acceptable to all main political parties and the public.

The former chief secretary said that instead of pointing a gun at the democrats' head to endorse whatever the government proposed for 2012, the Tsang administration had the obligation to put forward something acceptable to all.

"Dusting off a version of the 2005 package simply will not do, especially if this is accompanied by an implied threat that, if the Legislative Council doesn't endorse it this time around, then all bets are off for election of the chief executive by universal suffrage in 2017. The aim must be genuine buy-in from all parties, not a process of putting a gun to some people's heads. This is where the chief executive can, and should, show true leadership," Mrs Chan said on RTHK's Letter to Hong Kong.

Mr Tsang had said Hong Kong had the responsibility to ensure progress was made in 2012 after Beijing laid down a universal suffrage timetable for the chief executive election in 2017 and the Legislative Council poll in 2020.

Mrs Chan said the final strategy for achieving universal suffrage must be clear and endorsed by the central government by the time changes in 2012 were being implemented.

"I am prepared to accept some compromise in the short term if this helps to build consensus and if I can be sure that we are taking at least two steps forward for every one step back," she said.

A government spokesman said the administration would first increase the democratic elements for the chief executive and Legco elections in 2012.

The spokesman said the chief executive to be elected in 2012 would be responsible for forging a consensus on the electoral methods for Legco in 2016 and the chief executive in 2017.

 

南華早報    SCMP     James Tien backs end to trade-based polls by 2020
All functional constituencies should be scrapped by 2020 rather than be preserved under a "one person, two votes" system, Liberal Party chairman James Tien Pei-chun says.

Although he admitted that the trade-based representation was essentially unfair, Mr Tien rejected the idea of enfranchising the entire electorate so that everyone could vote in functional constituencies in addition to the geographical elections, the so-called one person, two votes method.

"This is direct election in disguise. That's not the original idea of functional constituencies. We might as well go for direct elections," he told the South China Morning Post.

Concerns have been raised that functional constituencies would be retained indefinitely after central government officials said they were not necessarily in conflict with universal suffrage.

The Liberals, who have strong influence in the business sector, support scrapping functional constituencies in stages from 2016 to 2024.

The party's position was set out before Beijing had made 2020 the timetable for returning the Legislative Council through universal suffrage. Mr Tien said the party had yet to discuss if it would revise its position in the wake of Beijing's decision.

"The Basic Law has promised gradual and orderly progress towards universal suffrage. We agree that it doesn't mean that functional constituencies should be abolished only at the end of the 50-year period. As 2020 is in the middle of the time span, we would accept it even though it's not our preferred choice," he said.

 

信報財經新聞     確認50人參選人大    李祖澤指非封殺泛民
第十一屆全國港區人大代表選舉會議主席團昨天召開第二次會議，確認總共五十名候選人，較去屆的七十八人遜色，主席團發言人李祖澤否認是因為中央從中作勸退工作。對於坊間盛傳中央已經組成一張四十人名單，李祖澤表示沒有聽聞，但指出回歸後兩屆人大選舉，「我知道這些名單都是滿天飛的」。　

由行政長官曾蔭權出任常務主席、政協副主席董建華、長實集團主席李嘉誠及全國人大常委曾憲梓等十五人組成的選舉會議主席團昨早開會，曾蔭權報告人代提名的情況，並確認五十名參選人符合資格為正式候選人，其中，前廉政專員羅范椒芬以四百三十七個提名稱冠，其次為現任人代王如登及葉國謙，分別獲三百七十九及三百零八個提名。

 

英文虎報     The Standard     Short list denied in NPC elections
Former top graft buster Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fan is leading a field of 50 candidates hoping to become National People's Congress deputies.

Picking the 36 new deputies on Friday will be an Election Committee that has been expanded from 800 members to 1,231.

Law, the former Independent Commission Against Corruption chief, has picked up 437 nominations, leading Wang Rudeng, the assistant director of the Central Government Liaison Office, who has 379 nominations, and Ip Kwok-him, vice chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, who has 308.

The final number of 50 candidates - less than the 78 in the 2002 election - was below expectations of about 90 for this year, triggering rumors Beijing had a short list.

But Election Committee spokesman Lee Cho-jat said the lower turnout was due to people being more aware of the nature of the job as an NPC deputy.

 

 

2008年 1 月20日
 明報     智經研討會多名副局長熱門人選出席「揀蟀會」人人封嘴
被視為特首「御用智囊」的智經研究中心，昨日假陽明山莊舉辦政制研討會，被指是為副局長及政治助理「揀蟀」。政制及內地事務局長林瑞麟、特首辦主任陳德霖及常任秘書長謝曼怡、中央政策組顧問劉細良等全日親自坐鎮，一班被視為可能人選如民建聯副主席蘇錦樑、自由黨黃以謙等獲邀出席。智經主席胡定旭對研討會是否讓政府「揀蟀」不置可否，強調昨日只是普通的研討會。明報記者勞康言研討會分上、下兩場，朝九晚六進行，合共 約有50 人參與，是次智經沒有安排記者採訪，研討會全程閉門進行。陽明山莊的保安相當嚴密，嚴禁其他人士接近會場及用膳的地方。與會者會後一律封口，否認自己參與會議，有人更稱自己只是來吃東西，不少人則由保安護送下離開，有別一般研討會後，與會者暢所欲言的情况。

昨日的研討會先由嶺南大學公共管治研究部主任李彭廣主講「香港政治制度有什麼配套」，林瑞麟則就「人大上月作決定後香港政制如何發展」演講，與會者再分成若干小組討論，大部分人士踴躍發言，林瑞麟全程投入，觀察眾人的討論情况。被問及林瑞麟是否「揀蟀」，李彭廣笑說： 「我不敢講喎！」據記者觀察，昨日出席研討會的有民建聯副主席蘇錦樑、自由黨區議員黃以謙、新力量網絡研究總監葉健民、三十會成員莫宜端、市建局社區發展經理邱文華、曾蔭權競選特首時公關主管游淑儀等。

 

南華早報    SCMP    Veteran Democrat warns young of long road ahead
Veteran democracy activist Szeto Wah yesterday sounded a warning to the next generation of Democratic Party members that politics was not just about rising through the ranks and winning seats but a lifetime commitment to democratic principles.

At a small ceremony at the party's headquarters, Mr Szeto symbolically handed the democracy baton to party members under 30. Mr Szeto was in no mood to celebrate, however, reminding the "youngsters" of the hard work ahead.

"Taking on the democracy baton doesn't mean you can rise through the party ranks and automatically get a district council or legislative council seat. This takes a lot of work," he said.

"It's not about carrying on when you win a seat, and giving up when you lose. That shows your dedication to democracy is not true."

The Democratic Party is finding it more difficult to win council seats. Factional disputes, the rise of alternative parties and the lack of expansion in the political structure have meant the party has lost the dominance it has held since before the handover. It suffered a sound defeat in November's district council polls.

 

 

2008年 1 月19日
星島日報       白高敦主動提問喜獲北京保證   英揆歡迎香港實行雙普選
正在訪華的英國首相白高敦昨日與國務院總理溫家寶會面後表示，歡迎北京保證讓香港實行雙普選。這是全國人大常委會上月通過關於香港普選的決定後，英方首次表達立場。他形容，中英關係處於歷史上最好時期，重申堅持「一中」原則，反對台灣推動加入聯合國的公投。

本報中國組

白高敦昨日展開三天訪華行程，這是他去年六月接任英國首相後，首次訪問中國。總理溫家寶在人民大會堂舉行歡迎儀式，兩人隨後舉行會談。溫家寶以中國古語「瑞雪兆豐年」，形容白高敦踏着瑞雪以來，象徵中英關係有個好開始。白高敦則形容，中英關係正處於歷史最好時刻。

溫總：中國堅持推動民主

兩人會談後，召開聯合記者會。作為香港前宗主國的首相，白高敦主動表示，自己與溫家寶談及香港雙普選問題，「我向他們(北京)提出有關香港的選舉問題，我歡迎他(溫家寶)作出保證，在未來的日子，香港會朝向行政長官及立法會選舉方向發展。」

據外電報道，白高敦和溫家寶昨天還談及經貿合作、政治、人權等多項議題。被外國記者問及中國民主進程時，溫家寶表示，中國堅持推進民主建設，充分保障人民的民主選舉、決策及監督權利，現時中國鄉以下代表已由直選產生，相信人民經過民主鍛鍊，能夠管好一個鄉，甚至一個縣。他強調：「各國的民主和選舉方式不 同，但是充分保障人民群眾的民主權利，這一點上是相通的。」

白高敦今日將離開北京前往上海，明日轉往亞洲之旅另一站印度進行訪問。

政黨：國際輿論助推普選

對於白高敦在北京表態歡迎中方保證香港在下一階段會有雙普選，民建聯主席譚耀宗表示，溫總在外交場合上作出保證，再一次顯示，中央對香港普選作出的決定是非常認真，並非隨便作出，白高敦的言論亦顯示國際輿論支持中央的決定，他認為落實普選問題只存在於香港，希望各黨派能就此妥協合作。

公民黨湯家驊指出，中國在國際舞台與其他國家的交流和合作日益頻繁，相信國際的輿論對香港實施普選有推動作用。他強調，並非香港人不相信中央對香港政制發展的決定，但基於現時沒有一個具體的普選方案，香港人最擔心的是二○一七是否真普選。

 

南華早報    SCMP      Bar chief tries to calm critics of CPPCC post
Bar Association chairman Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, who accepted a controversial appointment as a Guangdong government adviser this week, urged his members yesterday not to let their differences turn into the enemy of our common goal.

In his second statement this week, Mr Yuen, 44, reassured barristers and the public that he would not compromise his role as the Bar chairman because of his appointment on Tuesday as a member of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

He said he treasured and respected all the views expressed on his political appointment during the Bar's annual general meeting on Thursday, which lasted more than three hours as barristers from the pan-democratic camp - including many former Bar chairmen - challenged his decision.

In any body or community, difference in opinion is a fact of life and a wholesome situation. All democratic societies should allow and embrace different opinions. The important point to bear in mind is not to allow bona fide differences of opinion to become the enemy of our common goal, viz, the maintenance of the rule of law, Mr Yuen wrote.

Members of the Hong Kong Bar Association will

 

星島日報     石永泰：執委會支持袁國強任政協   法律界向內地建制行前一步
大律師公會主席袁國強獲委任為廣東省政協委員事件，副主席石永泰接受本報訪問表示，執委會支持主席的決定，是基於任命具象徵意義，使香港法律界與內地建制的關係行前一步，而擔任政協並非不能批評大陸。對於業內仍有人計畫「倒袁」，他認為對方要承擔令業界分化的風險。

 

南華早報     SCMP     Pan-democrats to go it alone in poll
The Civic Party and the League of Social Democrats are likely to field candidates in all five geographical constituencies in the Legislative Council elections in September, making co-ordination within the pan-democratic camp more difficult.

The parties, both founded in 2006, see the election as a vital platform to make way for new blood. Speaking after the pan-democratic camp's first meeting on strategic planning for the Legco elections, the Civic Party's Ronny Tong Ka-wah said it was likely that both would put forward candidates.

League of Social Democrats chairman Wong Yuk-man agreed with Mr Tong.

Whether or not Anson Chan enters the race will also have a big impact on the democratic camp's strategy in the Hong Kong Island constituency, he said. You cannot tell until the last minute.

The recently elected Anson Chan Fang On-sang, who has previously said she might run in September, was absent from yesterday's meeting.

 

 

2008年1月18日
南華早報    SCMP    No need for democracy suspicions, chief tells democrats
The chief executive yesterday urged pan-democrats not to view Beijing's decision on Hong Kong's democratic development suspiciously, adding that its timetable for universal suffrage would not be overturned.

Donald Tsang Yam-kuen pledged that election of the chief executive by one person, one vote in 2017 would be in line with the principles of universal suffrage but did not say if a lower entry threshold for the election would be adopted.

Last month the National People's Congress Standing Committee ruled out universal suffrage by 2012 but opened the possibility for it in the 2017 chief executive and 2020 Legislative Council elections.

Mr Tsang said some people in Hong Kong viewed this decision suspiciously and speculated there would be hidden hurdles to the introduction of universal suffrage.

They think it will be fake democracy and fake universal suffrage. But suspicion is unnecessary and non-constructive, Mr Tsang told lawmakers in a Legislative Council question-and-answer session, his first since Beijing handed down its ruling.

 

 

星島日報     時間表「牢不可破」無人可弄虛   特首：2017普選「打風打唔甩」
昨日立法會進行行政長官答問大會，多名立法會議員在會上就人大常委會就二○一七年普選行政長官決定作出提問，曾蔭權強調二○一七普選行政長官及二○二○普選立法會的年份是「打風都打唔甩」、「牢不可破」，「我很相信沒有一個人，包括在座各位在內，夠膽量推翻這個日子，夠膽量延遲這個日子」。他呼籲議員不要意氣用事，令二○一二年選舉再次原地踏步。

曾蔭權昨天步進立法會會議廳後，率先就普選議題發表講話。他指部分港人認為中央及特區政府刻意拖延民主步伐，在人大常委會作出普選時間表決定後，亦以懷疑眼光去揣測，認為背後必定設下各種關卡，並批評人大的決定是「假民主」及「假普選」。曾蔭權指，猜疑是不必要並且沒有建設性，呼籲議員不要意氣用事，令二○一二年選舉再次原地踏步。

籲議員莫猜疑意氣用事

民建聯前主席曾鈺成指有人批評現時無普選模式及無路綫圖，詢問曾蔭權如何說服港人普選不是「虛的」。曾蔭權回應時表示，上任時曾抱着先圖後表的原則，認為若沒有完整的設計及路綫圖，難以說服中央提出一個時間表。但策發會經三個月諮詢後，發現若沒有時間表，難以令市民有共識，因而在給中央的報告書中用了其他方式表達，而最終中央的決定說明了兩個時間表。

 

 

南華早報     SCMP    Universal suffrage remains top of agenda
Politics The democracy debate is sure to continue to hog the political limelight in the city overthe next 12 months, writes Chris Yeung

It is often difficult, at times risky, to venture into the business of predicting at the beginning of the year what might be in store in Hong Kong politics in the coming 12 months. Lessons are aplenty.

Back in January 2005, who would have foreseen Tung Chee-hwa stepping down two months' later, citing sore legs? When former DAB chairman Ma Lik passed away in August, who would have anticipated his Legco seat in Hong Kong Island going to former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang?

As Hong Kong people have become resigned to the reality that the promise of universal suffrage would remain a dream for some time, few would have predicted Beijing indicating at the end of last year that it would not oppose the election of the chief executive in 2017 and all legislators on a "one person, one vote" basis in 2020.

This year looks an unlikely exception. Although Beijing has made a significant move seeking to end the long drawn-out feud over universal suffrage by providing a timetable, the democracy debate will continue to dominate the political scene in the next 12 months - and beyond.

The pan-democrats are sure to keep raising the banner of dual universal suffrage (the right to vote for a leader and legislature) in 2012 for political and tactical reasons.

Pressure on them to abandon advocating 2012 as the date for those aims to be achieved will mount. In a Letter To Hong Kong programme broadcast on Radio Television Hong Kong on January5, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen warned against radical political gestures, which he said would damage relations between the mainland and the city over constitutional development. His remarks came eight days before the democrats organised a march to rally public support for full democracy in 2012.

In the wake of the National People's Congress Standing Committee decision on December29, the democrats had no alternative but to revise their strategy. Shortly after the NPC ruling, democrats floated the strategy of "walking with two legs," or fighting two battles at the same time, namely dual universal suffrage in 2012 and the best possible democratic arrangements in the lead-up to 2017 and 2020.

 

 

2008年1月17日
南華早報    SCMP   Compromise to make electoral progress, democrat urges allies
A veteran pan-democratic lawmaker has called on fellow democrats to compromise on electoral arrangements in 2012 to pave the way for the introduction of universal suffrage in 2017.

Lau Chin-shek also suggested that in 2016 and 2020 the pan-democrats forsake the functional constituencies they represented to persuade the government-friendly camp and business community to agree to the eventual abolition of the trade-based constituencies.

Mr Lau, who in 2004 called for a big reconciliation between Beijing and the democrats, said taking a step forward in electoral reforms in 2012 would help build trust between the pan-democrats and the central government, which was conducive to the election of the chief executive by universal suffrage in 2017.

 

 

星島日報      選港區人大   羅太成提名王
港 區人大選舉昨日截止報名，五十人爭三十六個席位，每一點四人爭一議席，也較上屆少近四成人參選，其中首次參選的前廉政專員羅范椒芬獲得最多提名，逾四百七十個，佔擁投票權的選舉會議成員近四成。選情未有預期激烈，中港評論員劉銳紹表示，人大選舉有中央祝福方，可能令不少人自行打「打退堂鼓」。

……  經過十二日提名期，新一屆的港區人大代表選舉會於本月二十五日進行投票。記者蕭浩林余潤添韓幸兒

25名角逐連任參選人

范徐麗泰、鄭耀棠、王如登、袁武、劉佩瓊、梁劉柔芬、王敏剛、黃宜弘、楊耀忠、黃國健、吳亮星、羅叔清、李宗德、吳清輝、王英偉、馬逢國、何鍾泰、高寶齡、費斐、梁秉中、朱幼麟、溫家旋、譚惠珠、葉國謙、曹宏威。

25名非現任參選人

霍震寰(中華總商會會長)、陳智思(行政會議成員)、史美倫(行政會議成員)、羅范椒芬(前廉政專員)、田北辰(前九鐵主席)、洪克協(廠商會前會長)、劉健儀(自由黨副主席)、蔡素玉(立法會議員)、 梁富華(工聯會副主席)、黃玉山(科大副校長)、盧瑞安(中旅有限公司執行董事)、馬豪輝(律師)、廖長江(大律師)、馮檢基(民協前主席)、雷添良(會計師)、陳普芬(會計師)、莊陳有(公民黨黨員)、林順潮(中大醫學院副院長)、陳財喜(中西區區議員)、蕭思江(律師)、麥海華(民主黨黨員)、涂謹申 (立法會議員)、林國雄(出入口商人)、張秀儀(律師)、孫龍(不詳)。

 

 

2008年1月16日
星島日報       梁家傑：普選是一個有功能組別的普選   「看不到2017能成特首候選人」
公民黨議員梁家傑去年初參選行政長官時，曾經聲言：「我真係想做特首」。今時今日，人大常委會已為二○一七普選特首開綠燈，屆時梁家傑是五十九歲，對從政者而言仍是盛年，問他一七年會否捲土重來參選特首，他略一遲疑反問：「你真係咁樂觀到時有得選……我完全睇唔到二○一七年我可能成為特首候選人。」

「我選特首令中央擔心」

對於人大常委會就政制時間表作出的決定，梁家傑認為，這決定「唔係講緊啲好實在嘅嘢，所謂二○一七、二○二○全部都係虛。」他認為中央今次提出普選年份，是因為「唔提唔得」，他甚至相信今次決定，與他去年能成功參選行政長官有關，「我相信中央設計這套特首選舉制度，是以為無人可以作出挑戰，但我竟然可以成為候選人，令到中央好擔心」，並作出策略上的調整。

由資深大律師躋身政壇的梁家傑，認為現時「民主運動的發展」，是要令公民社會對民主有深切的醒覺，明白到政府現時「缺乏行使公權力的基礎」，令到既得利益能通過政治特權控制社會資源。他認為現在需要一種「論述」，就像當年《基本法》廿三條他提出「溫水煮蛙」一樣，令到巿民明白產生共鳴。

 

明報     大律師會主席任粵政協前主席   紛質疑角色衝突   梁家傑促袁國強二擇其一
先後就人大釋法、23 條立法、秘密監察等事件與政府甚至中央「對着幹」的大律師公會，回歸以來一直擔當人權、法治橋頭堡的角色，而現任主席、資深大律師袁國強昨日向會員公布，已接受委任成為新一屆廣東省政協委員，是第一個大律師公會主席獲內地政治委任。

多名公會前主席對此表示驚訝，其中公民黨梁家傑更指袁國強的角色有衝突，應考慮退任主席。將於明日尋求連任的袁國強強調，接受委任得到執委會支持，他認為委任與他維護法治、人權的角色沒有衝突。明報記者大律師公會執委會昨日向會員發出通告，披露袁國強獲委任為廣東省政協委員一事，執委會對此表示歡迎。通告 指出，袁國強是以個人身分接受委任，相信可以為公會提供多一道與內地溝通的渠道，亦有助公會到內地提倡法治的政策。

會員曾討論罷免主席

公會前任主席、現任公民黨立法會議員余若薇、梁家傑和湯家驊對消息都感驚訝，認為委任會令人質疑袁國強能否獨立履行大律師公會主席捍衛人權、憲制的責任。湯家驊更表示，昨日與業界資深成員討論，有觸及是否罷免袁的問題，但現時未有決定，但若真的罷免，也會面對無人可即時接任的問題。

 

星島日報      支聯會常委也有機會參選人大   劉迺強朱幼麟提名麥海華
港區人大選舉今日截止報名，泛民將商討投票名單。身兼支聯會常委的民主黨麥海華和立法會議員涂謹申昨日報名參選，麥成功爭取現任全國政協及《基本法》委員會委員劉迺強及港區人大朱幼麟提名，劉迺強說不知道麥是支聯會常委。涂謹申說，正計畫採用「垃圾桶原理」搶票攻勢。

本月廿五日是港區人大投票日，所有選舉會議成員必須選足三十六名人大代表，選票方有效，公民黨黨魁余若薇說，泛民會協商投票名單，但若不成功，公民黨黨員可自行決定是否投票及投白票。民主黨副主席單仲偕表示，暫時未有計畫與泛民商討協調投票。前綫劉慧卿和社民連的陳偉業早前已表明不會參與任何小圈子選舉。余若薇又說，目前有不少中 間派人士爭取公民黨支持。

 

 

2008年1月15日
星島日報       湯家驊指數字不重要    港大：民陣遊行人數1.2萬
港大民意研究計畫估計，本周日民主人權陣線發起的爭普選遊行，參加人數介乎一萬至一萬二千人之間。主辦單位當日表示有二萬二千人參與遊行，警方則估計近七千人由維園出發。公民黨湯家驊認為數字有出入不重要，最重要是仍有相當多市民希望盡快實行普選。

 

蘋果日報      李柱銘未定是否選立會   首要考慮保泛民議席以保政改議價能力
民主黨楊森早前表明在下屆立法會選舉參選名單中排行第二，力推第二梯隊上位，但其04年的競選拍檔、今年將年屆70歲的民主黨創黨主席李柱銘，至今仍然未決定會否退選，強調能否保住該黨在港島區現有的兩個議席，將是決定他是否參選的重要指標。

指爭取2012合情合憲

李柱銘昨天接受香港電台訪問時指出，至今仍然未看通港島區選舉形勢，因此未決定是「退落嚟」抑或繼續參選，但他強調，「如果楊森落嚟，我又退落嚟，會唔會令嗰兩個位都無埋呢？呢個仍然係最重要嘅考慮。」他指培養新人雖然重要，但泛民的最大共識是下屆立法會保住至少20席，以免失去政改問題的議價能力，故此最終作出決定時，必須考慮「呢個對民主個勢係咪好呢？」雖然人大常委會已否決2012年雙普選，但本周日的爭取2012年雙普選遊行仍然有2.2萬人參與。李柱銘認為，目前距離2012年還有四年時間，就算泛民繼續爭取2012年雙普選，也是合情合憲。

 

 

2008年 1 月14日
南華早報     SCMP    Accept reality, prepare for 2017 and 2020, Tsang urges
Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has urged the business community and political parties to prepare for universal suffrage in 2017 and 2020.

Speaking on an RTHK programme before yesterday's march for universal suffrage in 2012, Mr Tsang said he understood some people had been disappointed. But he said 2012 was an impossible goal.

Now that a timetable has been sent, I hope everyone will be able to focus on what is possible, rather than what is not, he said on RTHK's Letter to Hong Kong, in a programme called Political Reform - Let's Get the Job Done.

In a landmark ruling last month, the National People's Congress Standing Committee allowed universal suffrage for the chief executive election in 2017 and the Legislative Council election in 2020.

 

星島日報      指無雙普選2012選舉亦要有進展   民陣遊行 特首籲聚焦政改
民間人權陣綫及泛民發起的二○一二雙普選遊行昨日在驟晴驟雨的天氣下舉行，大會聲稱有二萬二千人參與，與警方指有六千八百人在維園出發，差距萬五人，民陣數字比警方多二點二四倍 (見表) 。行政長官曾蔭權在遊行前發表講話，尊重市民爭雙普選的堅持，希望能聚焦在可實現的目標上，令二○一二選舉有進展，否則難向市民和國家交代。

 

 

2008年 1 月13日
蘋果日報     今76歲生日腳痛都遊行　  陳日君願望：2012看到普選
不 必鮮美的蛋糕，不必嬌艷的花束，76歲老人生日，寧可用慶生祝壽的燭光燃起人人心底裏的盼望，盼望在剎那的光芒裏，大家看清所謂2017普選特首的虛渺的 承諾。天主教香港教區主教陳日君樞機近日雖受膝關節退化的困擾，今天恰逢生辰，他情願繼續與香港人並肩參加爭取2012雙普選的遊行。這個願望他不會放 棄，始終祈願有生之年可以看到香港有普選。他希望港人也不要放棄。

 

星島日報    擔心民主派不獲參選機會   楊森：2017普選「值得肯定」
泛民主派今天發動遊行，爭取二○一二雙普選。民主黨議員楊森昨天坦言，人大常委會定下二○一七年可普選行政長官是「值得肯定」和「一個進步」，始終有一個「終站」，但擔心屆時中央會設一個高門欄的篩選機制，民主派人士將可能不獲參選機會。他認為今天的遊行，是要帶出巿民爭取「真正普選」的決心。

 

明報       撰文表心迹「無意與中央對抗」  陳太：爭真普選或需妥協
今日將出席泛民主派遊行的立法會議員陳方安生呼籲，儘管人大常委否決2012 年雙普選，但現在是時候放下分歧、重新聚焦，為2017 年普選特首和不遲於2020 年普選立法會， 及早訂出明確的路線圖和時間表，邁向真正的民主。她並強調要實現普選，可能會涉及一些初步的妥協。陳太昨日在兩份報章撰文指出，自己雖參與遊行，但無意與中央政府對抗。她會清楚表達為港人爭取真民主，或盡早達至雙普選機會的承諾，並沒有因為任何挫折而消減。她建議，要早日邁向真正民主的目標，應先改變 2012年的特首選舉方式，以及改善立法會功能組別議席。

 

 

2008年 1 月12日
蘋果日報      港大最新民調4成人仍盼2012雙普選　  泛民呼籲參加明天遊行繼續爭取
人大常委否決了2012雙普選後，北京、特區政府，以致左派人士都以為港人會甘心接受，不過根據本報委託港大民意研究計劃所做的調查發現，2012雙普選仍是民意首選，更有四成被訪者，支持泛民繼續爭取2012雙普選。負責調查的香港大學民研計劃主任鍾庭耀認為，巿民無奈接受人大常委的決定之餘，仍然希望泛民繼續爭取2012雙普選。泛民則呼籲市民參加明天1.13爭取2012雙普選遊行。

 

南華早報    SCMP    Pan-democrats to hit the streets
Pan-democratic lawmakers are working to mobilise the public for tomorrow's march in protest against Beijing's rejection of universal suffrage in 2012.

Unionist legislator Lee Cheuk-yan expects at least 10,000 people to join the march, to begin in Victoria Park at 3pm and end at the government's headquarters in Central.

Pan-democratic legislators, dressed either in black or white, will gather in Mong Kok today to urge the public to turn out for the march.

The Frontier and younger members from other pan-democratic parties have organised a street forum today to call on the city's young people to continue the fight for democracy.

Civic Party members plan to walk from Taikoo Shing to the central government's liaison office in Sheung Wan today, symbolising a long road to democracy. The Democratic Party, meanwhile, will stage a march from Chater Garden to government headquarters with signatures collected from the public supporting dual universal suffrage in 2012.

The pan-democratic camp's slogan for tomorrow's rally is "No false democracy in 2017, fighting for real dual universal suffrage in 2012".

 

 

2008年 1 月11日
蘋果日報     爭真普選遊行由長者帶隊　   感召年輕人不要放棄周日上街
泛民昨日開始為1.13爭取真普選遊行展開最後動員，多名泛民立法會議員，昨日步行四小時走過港九鬧市，沿途派發傳單，呼籲市民參加周日下午3時在維園集合的遊行。遊行主辦團體民間人權陣線透露，今次遊行會以長者帶隊，希望透過已一把年紀的長者，仍不放棄爭取普選，感召支持普選的年輕人站出來參加遊行，以行動向北京及特區政府，顯示港人的民主訴求。

 

東方日報       18區會主席過半非民選
十八區區議會新一屆正副主席昨日全數誕生，當中十個區都是由非民選議員當選主席，多於上屆的八個。泛民主派質疑政府連民選的建制派議員也信不過，只信自己委任的議員。

此外，上屆只贏得一個主席位的民建聯，今屆連奪七區主席，惹起部分鄉事派不滿，預計雙方的衝突，會在稍後的立法會區議會功能組別選舉中再次爆發。

北 區區議會昨日舉行正副主席選舉，民主黨北區區議員黨團在會前發表聲明，批評區議會委任制不合理及不尊重民意，決定杯葛有關選舉。民建聯蘇西智及當然議員侯智強在沒有對手下，自動當選正副主席。連同其餘十七個區，今屆共有七區是由委任議員做主席，三區由當然議員做主席，即是有過半數區的主席都並非經民選產 生。

 

 

2008年 1 月10日
南華早報      SCMP    Motion urging suffrage in 2012 knocked back
The pan-democrats suffered a setback last night when a Legislative Council motion calling for universal suffrage in 2012 was defeated 31-23, with five amendments also rejected.

Anson Chan Fang On-sang, who has kept a low profile since the National People's Congress Standing Committee set out a timetable for Hong Kong's political reform, abstained from voting on the amendments moved by Ronny Tong Ka-wah, Alan Leong Kah-kit and Leung Kwok-hung.

Mr Leung's amendment called on NPC deputies to reverse the state legislature's decision while Mr Tong's amendment "strongly condemned" the Hong Kong government for opposing full democracy in 2012. Mr Leong's amendment expressed "strong condemnation" of Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen.

Mrs Chan said she would join the pan-democrats' march on Sunday against Beijing's rejection of universal suffrage by 2012.

The motion, moved by Albert Chan Wai-yip, also condemned what he called the chief executive's failure to fully reflect Hong Kong people's desire for universal suffrage.

Five amendments moved by democrats were vetoed because of opposition from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and the Liberal Party.

 

明報       立會否決爭2012普選動議    泛民修訂陳太投棄權票
全國人大常委會定出2017 年普選特首時間表後，立法會昨日討論社民連陳偉業提出的爭取2012 年雙普選動議。動議雖然在直選方面取得16 比10 票，但在功能組別以7 比21 票遭否決。獨立議員、前政務司長陳方安生對動議投贊成票，但對公民黨湯家驊、梁家傑和社民連梁國雄的修訂議案則投棄權票，有泛民議員估計，可能是因為這些修訂議案包含批評特區政府的字眼。

會上泛民議員提出有5 個修正案，全部都皆被否決，其中湯家驊提出譴責特區政府和反對2012 雙普選的黨派，梁家傑提出譴責行政長官，梁國雄則提出極之不滿全國人大常委會的決定。有意參選人大的民協馮檢基亦對梁國雄修訂投棄權票。

林瑞麟：現毋須就功能組別下定論政制及內地事務局長林瑞麟回應表示，大家在普選時間表上的分歧只是5 年之差，以歷史角度來看，並非一段長時間；而政府對2020 年普選立法會仍未有定案，現階段毋須就功能組別下定論。

陳太會參加普選遊行

陳太批評，政府在報告上承認逾半數市民支持2012 雙普選，中央卻推遲至2017 年落實。她又質疑，未見到政府現在有就邁向普選有任何工作，例如修訂選舉法例和重新界定公司票，並促請政府和策發會設計出市民願意接受的方案。她透露，自己會參加下周日（13 日）的爭取普選遊行。

 

星島日報      泛民為遊行連日宣傳
泛民將於周日下午發起遊行爭取二○一二年普選，為提升遊行溫度，泛民將由今日起一連三天舉行連串的宣傳活動，包括「環島行」及於行人專用區舉行論壇等。泛民未有預料參加遊行的人數，但對有逾二萬人出席感樂觀。

泛民昨舉行記者會，呼籲參加者穿着黑色或白色衣服，以象徵黑白分明。前綫劉慧卿指自○三年七一遊行以來，沒有任何事是不可能的，相信仍會有市民出來參加遊行。

泛民未有預計參加遊行的人數，職工盟秘書長李卓人表示，現時向警方申報的人數是一萬二千人，但對參加人數超過萬二人感樂觀。他又表示是次遊行並不是激烈的抗爭，市民亦會明白他們遊行的目的：「爭取了幾十年，市民會明白的，希望好似○三年般激烈，希望再出現一次。」

 

 

2008年 1 月9日
蘋果日報      陳方安生參加1.13遊行   泛民相信可動員更多市民上街
泛民主派發起1.13爭取2012雙普選大遊行，據了解前任政務司司長、立法會議員陳方安生，已答應參加遊行。泛民陣營繼續加強宣傳攻勢，除了今日會在立法會提出動議辯論，強烈譴責特區政府未能為港人爭取盡快落實雙普選外，未來幾日會有宣傳車在全港各區呼籲市民參加遊行；社福界也發出7,000封電郵，呼籲社工上街。自人大常委會否決2012雙普選，民陣與泛民仍決定1.13上街遊行、繼續爭取2012雙普選後，陳太一直未有明確表態是否加入。有泛民中人透露，他們與陳太多次接觸後，她原則上已答應參加，泛民相信陳太參加遊行，可以動員更多市民參加，不過最終她如何決定，要等陳太自己對外公佈。

 

香港經濟日報      何俊仁：民主爭拗 持續10年　 「倘有真民主 民建聯可執政」 　　人大常委會敲定香港普選時間表後，有意見指民主派生存空間將逐步收縮，但民主黨主席何俊仁卻認為，未來10年香港都要繼續為民主爭拗；他說：「如果香港已有一個民主制度植根，我很願意離開政壇。」

民主派既堅持2012年雙普選，但又指2012年過渡方案「有得傾」，何俊仁指，這是務實而非「騎牆」，「民主派不能沒有準備，若2012年沒有普選怎樣呢？」

他又指本港如有真的民主制度，不介懷那個政黨執政，「如政治已上軌道，包括基本遊戲規則已有了共識，我很樂意完成我的使命，誰人執政都沒有所謂，頭兩屆是民建聯執政，都無所謂，選民覺得不好，就換自由黨，之後到公民黨，到最後才民主黨，都沒有所謂。」

「泛民無上台 毋須下台階」

他強調，「真普選」就是要確保達至普及參與，在提名機制上，不可存有不合理的限制，「如果中央不信任，屆時可以不作任命！但不可以有事前的批准。」他指，泛民可就提名委員會的提名程序，作出討論，但「最恐怖的地方，就是（有黨派）拒絕討論。」

中大的民意調查，逾七成市民接受中央的普選決定，泛民繼續爭取2012年雙普選是否愈來愈艱難？何俊仁說：「爭取（民主）從來舉步艱難」，民主派「從沒上過台」，因此也毋須找下台階。

 

 

2008年 1 月8日
蘋果日報      指72%港人接受人大決定  中大民調遭質疑　被轟配合政府壓低遊行人數
中文大學一個最新發放的民調指稱，接受人大常委會否決2012年雙普選決定的港人高達72%。但有泛民立法會議員及學者隨即踢爆，指該民調的問題設計具有引導性，對人大決定的魔鬼細節，例如普選特首的門檻偏高及保留功能組別等隻字不提；民調設計凸顯中央指2017年「可以」普選特首的同時，未有凸顯中央否決2012年雙普選，「佢問人接受定唔接受，但其實接受並唔代表支持」。

 

南華早報    SCMP     'Solid' backing for pan-democrats' push for 2012 timetable, says pollster
The pan-democrats have dismissed suggestions that their position on universal suffrage is untenable after a survey found a majority of the public accepted Beijing's timetable of 2017 and 2020.

The Chinese University survey was the first on the National People's Congress Standing Committee decision, handed down last month, which said that the chief executive may be elected by universal suffrage in 2017 and the legislature by 2020.

The survey showed that more than 70 per cent of people found Beijing's timetable of 2017 and 2020 acceptable. However, more than one-third of respondents still supported groups calling for protests to push for universal suffrage in 2012.

The poll found that 21.4 per cent of the 909 respondents thought this was unacceptable compared to 72.2 per cent who said it was acceptable.

Confidence that Beijing's timetable would be met was relatively lower, with 59.8 per cent saying they believed it would happen, while 34.7 per cent said they had no confidence.

About 34 per cent said the government had not tried its best to fight for universal suffrage, according to the survey by the university's Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies.

The survey found that 36.3 per cent supported continuing the fight for 2012 with protests.

Timothy Wong Ka-ying, who conducted the survey, said support for the pan-democrats' fight for 2012 remained solid.

He said most people found the ruling acceptable due to the Standing Committee's authority, although their confidence in achieving the timetable was not particularly high.

 

 

2008年 1 月7日
南華早報   SCMP   Focus on electoral methods for 2012, ADPL chief urges democrats
Pan-democrats should start working on a proposal for election methods in 2012 instead of persisting with universal suffrage for that year, the leader of the Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood said.

Bruce Liu Sing-lee, acting chairman of the pan-democratic party, said the ADPL was studying the feasibility of increasing the number of Legislative Council seats in 2012 to pave the way for full direct elections in 2020. "The National People's Congress Standing Committee's decision is a reality," he said. "More rallies and hunger strikes will not change it."

Last month, the national legislature ruled out full democracy in Hong Kong in 2012 and opened the possibility of universal suffrage for the chief executive and all Legislative Council seats in 2017 and 2020 respectively.

One proposal under discussion by the ADPL is to add 10 seats to the geographic constituencies and 10 to the functional constituencies for the Legco election in 2012, with all new functional seats indirectly elected by the public through district councils.

This is similar to the government's proposal for this year's Legco election, which was vetoed by pan-democrat lawmakers in 2005. The administration then suggested increasing geographical and functional seats by five seats each.

But Mr Liu added the condition that all appointed seats on district councils must be abolished.

He said that adding an equal number of seats on the two sides of the legislature would be in line with the NPC Standing Committee's rule that the 50-50 split between the two types of seat remain unchanged. More opportunities would also be available for all parties to nurture their second-tier political talent.

 

蘋果日報      泛民勁谷1.13爭取真普選大遊行　 「要政府還我們公道」