The Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA) welcomes the constructive dialogue held today (October 21) between the Government and the representatives of the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS). Subsequently, the Government indicated that it will reflect to the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council (HKMAO) the views of the public. The BPA urges the students and protesters to cease the illegal occupation of public areas and to seize the opportunity provided by the cordial talks to engage the Government on the issue of political reforms in a peaceful and rational manner.
Mr Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, BPA Chairman, said the dialogue between the representatives of the government and the HKFS has helped cultivate mutual understanding and represented an important first step in paving the way towards regular communications. Addressing the Administration’s proposal to submit a report on public views to the HKMAO, he said, “In response to the HKFS’s demands, the Government has laid out concrete measures, which will be conducive to the development of political reforms going forward. We hope both parties cherish the importance of this dialogue, which can serve as the basis for a gradual return to normalcy.”
Mr Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, BPA Vice Chairman, described the Government notion to set up a multilateral platform to discuss constitutional reform and the long term development of Hong Kong’s political system as proactive and pragmatic. He was hopeful that prejudices could be set aside in favour of honest and sincere exchanges to resolve the current crisis. He emphasized, “Hong Kong is our home and our youth are the future of Hong Kong. The success we enjoy today is a result of our forefathers’ sweat, determination and hard work over many years. We should therefore treasure what we have and not let political disagreements destroy our future.”
The BPA reiterates its call again for protesters to disperse as soon as possible and to cease their illegal occupy movement to eliminate the risk of chaos and to restore social order. Every effort should be made to take forward detailed arrangements for the implementation of universal suffrage.
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