Apple Daily‘s editorial, written by commentator Lee Yee, pointed out the inconsistencies between how incidents are treated. The paper cited the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s (ICAC) immediate investigation legislator Leung Kwok-hung’s claims that he was approached to support the reforms, while the incident of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s allegedly receiving $50 million via engineering company UGL did not elicit such immediate responses.
Likewise, Lee compared the response to the recent Sai Kung bomb plot to the Chief Executive paying respect to Yeung Kwong who lead the leftist riots of 1967 and caused the deaths of 15 people. Finally, Lee mentions that, in the face of the ruling party pressuring Hong Kongers to accept an electoral system that enforces “one party nomination,” rejecting it is the only way avoid ending “everything that is good.”
MingPao called on legislators to support the reforms, citing that not only could it affect whether the chief executive in 2017 but it would also affect the relationship between Hong Kong and mainland China. The paper was also supportive of the decision by Jasper Tsang, the chairperson of the Legislative Council, in allowing police officers to enter LegCo for security purposes.
Oriental Daily drew attention to the bomb plot, and argued that since last year’s Occupy Central protests, the spirit of the law has been eroded and that people were being encouraged to violate the law under the name of “fighting for democracy”. The paper also questioned the need for democracy, citing that Hong Kong has been prosperous without democracy in the past. The paper argued that since “democracy” was implemented, economic and social issues were put aside in favour of political infighting, and it was inconceivable why Hong Kong was still arguing whether “pocket it for now” was “pocket it forever.”
Singtao Daily cited the reason why radicalisation of protesters during the Occupy Central protests where illegal actions were legitimised; the paper said that as Hong Kong was not under unreasonable rule, there was no place for civil disobedience, and that “violent acts” nowadays were an extension of the line of thought for civil disobedience.
Tai Kung Pao called on pan-democrat legislators to support the electoral reform resolution, saying that the reforms involved three parties, and currently two parties have clearly accepted the resolution. The paper added that the Chinese government’s stance was already clear and hoped to implement universal suffrage. The editorial added that and public opinion also hoped for one person, one vote. The only remaining party is the legislature in order to make universal suffrage a reality.
Wen Wei Po asked for pan-democrats not to have any illusion that once they have vetoed the current resolution, the Chinese government would accept the pan-democrats proposal for “real universal suffrage” that violates the Basic Law and the NPCSC decision.
