New drive to find middle way on 2017 election
Centaline boss, academics and ex-lawmakers behind study of public views on reform
An outspoken property agency boss and moderate pan-democrats are joining forces to test the public's views on a "middle way" for the first democratic election for chief executive in 2017.
While details of their plan remain sketchy, the group is launching amid criticism of Occupy Central's "referendum" next month, in which voters will choose between three models for the 2017 poll, all featuring public nomination.
The new study will test the question of whether allowing the public to put forward candidates - which many pan-democrats insist on but which Beijing rejects as inconsistent with the Basic Law - should be considered a must for a free and fair poll.
The survey will be organised by academics, former lawmakers and Centaline property agency boss Shih Wing-ching.
"The options currently available for the public are often extreme. Maybe Hongkongers would want to pick the middle way," said Shih, owner of free newspaper , who stressed he "was not the one who put forward the initiative".
His role will include offering financial support for polling, though, he added: "Every one of us will contribute financially."
The new group's mission reflects a divide in the pan-democratic camp. Many consider public nomination crucial and fear the nominating committee specified in the Basic Law will "filter" out Beijing's critics.
