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Time to end Occupy Central movement: Tung Chee-hwa

THE Occupy Central movement will tear Hong Hong's community apart and severely affect the city's economy and livelihood, Hong Kong's former Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said here on Friday, calling on protesters to end the occupation.

Tung, who is also vice-chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks at a press conference held in the former chief executive's official mansion.

Tung expressed concern over the harm caused by the nearly month- long protests over constitutional development. "The occupation is approaching one month and now it's time to end it," he said, adding that he worried the so-called civil disobedience movement was "a little bit out of control."

"In civilized societies, conflicts are resolved through dialogue, not in streets. Students should not use the occupation as bargaining chips for negotiation with the government," Tung said.

Tung said he understands the students' demands for democracy, however, the idea of civil nomination, which violates the Basic Law and the decision made by the National People's Congress Standing Committee, cannot be put into practice.

"I hope students are willing to listen to this old man. Time to go home," he said, adding they should accept a longer timeline for electoral reforms.

Speaking of the harm caused by the protest, Tung said both the bookings at local hotels and the credit-card spending had plunged by 20 to 30 percent in recent weeks.

He expects companies would hold back decisions on pay rises and hiring due to the uncertainty arising from the movement, further dampening hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong people's livelihood.
"The negative impact of the Occupy Central will go beyond our imagination," he said.

Under Hong Kong's Basic Law and the top legislature's decisions, more than 5 million Hong Kong voters could have a say to who will become the chief executive in 2017 through a "one man, one vote" election, which had never been realized under the British colonial rule.

Tung said the debate on constitutional development in Hong Kong needs rational and pragmatic discussions rather than passion and idealism, and the universal suffrage for the chief executive election in 2017 is not the end but the beginning of the constitutional development.
He added the rule of law is the cornerstone of Hong Kong's success. "We cannot violate the rule of law while pursuing democracy."

Moreover, Tung said the protests had unavoidably adversely affected the relationship between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, while Hong Kong's prosperity cannot be achieved without the back of the central government.

He said rebuilding the trust between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland should be a task of top priority, urging all the citizens to shoulder their responsibility.

Hong Kong government officials held the first formal talks on Tuesday with students who have been participating the Occupy Central movement since Sept. 28.

Tung said he was glad the two sides started the talk and hope the dialogue would continue.




 

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