May 16 – 5 District Referendum Movement
One Person One Vote for the Abolition of Functional Constituencies –
Joint Statement by Tertiary 2012 (“T12”) and
the Joint Committee of the 5 District Referendum Movement (“Joint Committee”)
20 April 2010
1. Through the resignation of 5 democratic legislators, Civic Party and the League of Social Democrats have set the 5 District Referendum Movement in motion. The 5 Candidates fielded by the 2 parties advocate “Implementation of True Universal Suffrage and Abolition of Functional Constituencies without Delay" as their common election platform in the coming By-Election so as to put this important issue in the hands of Hong Kong people.
2. In view of the icy treatment by the Central Government and the boycott by the pro-establishment camp, T12 have decided to run in the By-Election so that, through their ballots, Hong Kong people can have a direct say in the pace of democratization. T12 believe their participation in this historical 5 District Referendum Movement will help to broaden the deliberations on democratic development.
3. The Joint Committee and T12 have similar goals. We both demand that Functional Constituencies be abolished as universal suffrage means nothing less than equal and universal right to vote and to stand for election. The recent Government proposal on 2012 political reforms shows that that there is no intention whatsoever to abolish Functional Constituencies. We cannot accept this. We believe that the 5 District Referendum Movement is the only way out of the political deadlock.
4. May 16 is an unprecedented opportunity for Hong Kong people to voice their determination to end this unjust system and their discontent against the Donald Tsang administration. The Joint Committee and T12 agree that total votes cast for these 2 teams can jointly demonstrate the extent of the people’s opposition to the functional constituency system. Every vote counts. The more votes cast, the more successful the 5 District Referendum Movement.
5. We call upon all Hong Kong people to make use of this opportunity to vote for real democracy. We do not advocate blank ballots. We have to articulate our demands loud and clear so that neither the SAR government nor the Central Government can afford to ignore us.
6. In view of the election rules, T12 and the Joint Committee will carry out our election campaigns separately and independently and will not canvass votes for each other. Today’s press conference shall not be taken as a cross-canvassing event.