HK to start second consultation on constitutional reform

Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung announced Tuesday that the second round of public consultation on constitutional reform will start on Jan. 7.

Speaking before the Executive Council meeting in the morning, Leung called on people to express their views on constitutional development but stay within the framework set out in the Basic Law and the relevant decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

The Hong Kong government will use different ways to collect people's opinions during the consultation, he said, hoping that a consensus could be reached in a legal, rational and pragmatic manner.

Leung noted that the first round of consultation had already laid out the foundations for the second phase which should be more focused and completed in a shorter time.

The chief executive made it clear that Hong Kong is a law- abiding city that will not tolerate illegal acts or attempts to pressure the Hong Kong government or the central government to accept any proposal that is not in accordance with the Basic Law.