TMCnet News
New H.K. party to push for universal suffrage+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)HONG KONG, March 19_(Kyodo) _ Beijing and the Hong Kong government can expect a stronger call for universal suffrage in Hong Kong's elections with the launch Sunday of a new pro-democracy political party. The Civic Party, headed by legislator Audrey Eu, is composed of people from all walks of life including legislators, scholars and grass-roots workers. "Our policy agenda doesn't specify the year or time for universal suffrage but we want to fight for it to come as early as possible," Eu said at the party's foundation ceremony. "Hong Kong is ready for universal suffrage, for now, yesterday and the day before yesterday. Setting any timetable is even too late," she said. Party chairman Kuan Hsin-chi, a former member of the Central Policy Unit, a government think tank, said the party is "a ruling party in waiting" but added that when will that happen is not of utmost importance. |