[Renewal of the Legislative Council] The protesters appeal to the pan-people for "general speech" Scholars: Disrespect voters

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Written by: Chen Xunlin

2020-08-13 20:04

In response to the epidemic, the SAR government cited the "Emergency Law" to postpone this year’s Legislative Council elections until September next year. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress recently passed a decision on the "vacuum period" of the Legislative Council to extend the term of the current Legislative Council and allow all members to extend their terms. Until the next election. Some protesters called on the democratic members to collectively resign and boycott the parliament, but they still have not reached a consensus on whether to leave or stay. Ye Jianmin, a professor of the Department of Public Policy at the City University of Hong Kong, believes that the "general remarks" not only deprives the Panmins of the opportunity to control resources, but also disrespects the voters' performance. It is equivalent to depriving hundreds of millions of supporters of their only political rights.

After the government announced the postponement of the Legislative Council election, the focus of society has been on whether the four incumbent members who were disqualified from the election nomination period are allowed to extend their posts. Now the answer is ready to come, but the democrats are facing another problem- -Should every inch of land strive to fulfill the responsibilities of parliamentarians, or abandon the parliamentary front to show dissatisfaction with the postponement of the election by the Hong Kong government? The protesters who qualified in the primary elections of the democratic camp and have already signed up for the election believe that the general resignation of all pan-democratic legislators can deny the legitimacy of the "Provisional Legislative Council" and need not act as a "political vase"; however, some scholars It is proposed that Panmin has 24 seats in the parliament and the establishment has 42 seats. If all members return, Panmin will still have the key veto power, and staying behind has greater practical significance.

Professor Ye Jianmin of the Department of Public Policy of the City University of Hong Kong said frankly that after considering various aspects, he does not agree with the general remarks, because this will not only cause the pan-people to lose the opportunity to control resources, but also disrespect the voters. He explained that from a more pragmatic perspective, the resources that democratic members receive in parliament can help support the development of political parties, communities, and social movement. For a group of voters, "If (the pan-democracy) is so easy to resign, it is very Disrespect the people of Hong Kong."

Ye Jianmin said frankly that he does not approve of the general remarks, because this will not only cause the pan-people to lose the opportunity to control resources, but also disrespect the voters. (Profile picture)

Deprive only political rights

"Since Hong Kong has direct elections, this parliamentary system has been deformed, difficult to function and undemocratic... But in fact, Hong Kong people know it from beginning to end." He explained that the number of voters and their intention to vote have increased over the years. It reflects that even if the public knows that they cannot have a strong check on the government, they still hope that their voices can be heard, and representatives will ask questions and obtain more information through the parliament, so that the right to know will be respected. To resign, or not to participate in the future, is to deprive millions of Hong Kong voters of a very important power-almost the only and most important political right now."

He added that even if the political environment is getting worse and the citizens' desire to vote in the past few decades has risen, reflecting their cherishment of their right to participate, the situation is like every election that advocates vain votes, but quality is not mainstream. Accepted by public opinion.

The rising desire of citizens to vote in the past few decades reflects that they cherish their right to participate. (Profile picture)

"Public Opinion Authorization" that can be performed by itself?

Some protesters questioned that the extension of the current legislature has not been authorized by any public opinion. Appointment is like calling for security and should boycott the "unjust" council. But in the eyes of Ye Jianmin, this statement is applicable everywhere, because the "general speech" also lacks a strong public opinion authorization: "Public opinion authorization, this word also depends on what is needed." He said: "If you say the whole The system loses its legitimacy. Will you (congressman) never return to Parliament? These are issues that need to be resolved."

As a matter of fact, the saying that "parliament is useless" surfaced from time to time, and commentators advocated leaving parliament and not serving as a "political vase." But Ye Jianmin believes that whether the council is useful or not is a matter of man-made. He proposed that although the power of the Legislative Council has not increased in the past two decades, different members of the Council will make the best use of the powers granted by the Council. For example, Huang Yumin used Rabu to contain the establishment, Tu Jinshen urged the Bills Committee to appear "twins", etc., and ordered the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance. Delays and delays in deliberation show that members of Parliament still have functions that can be performed in Parliament: "It is easy to say that a simple sentence is useless, but from the perspective of resistance, (members) now have no qualifications and space to give up any method of resistance."

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