2015年CRI Security Enhanced at Legco ahead of Political Reform Vote

 

Jasper Tsang, Chairman of The Legislative¹ Council in Hong Kong, says tightened² security arrangements for the complex are in place to prevent clashes.

"The latest risk assessment³ by the Police indicates that there is a likelihood of the Legislative Council Complex being stormed by radical⁴ groups in the next couple of days. At the same time, it has been brought to the attention of our Secretariat that there will be large numbers of people coming from opposing political camps gathering⁵ in the precincts of the Complex."

Earlier this week, Hong Kong police uncovered an alleged⁶ bomb plot and arrested 10 people ahead of this week's Legislative Council vote on a universal suffrage⁷ package.

Following the arrest, Chief Executive CY Leung stresses that no illegal activities will be tolerated.

"I shall reiterate⁸ a position which I take, which everyone in Hong Kong should take too, and this is we don't tolerate any kind or any form of illegal activities, whether it is violent or non-violent. And we definitely should not legitimize illegal activities, whether they are non-violent or violent."

Lawmakers will begin a debate and vote starting from Wednesday on the government's electoral reforms in 2017.

Some lawmakers have repeatedly said they will veto it because they believe the reform package doesn't offer what they call "genuine democracy".

However, a recent public opinion poll shows that nearly 60 percent of respondents want the government's reform package to be passed.

It requires two thirds of the votes at the Legislative Council.

The convener of the Silent Majority of Hong Kong Robert Chow hopes lawmakers will follow the mainstream⁹ public opinion not to veto the plan.

"It is universal and obvious that over 50 percent represents the mainstream opinion in any democratic systems. If it is not majority, what is it?"

The Hong Kong government have spent the past two years trying to garner¹⁰ enough support from the public and lawmakers to realize universal suffrage in the next chief executive election in 2017, which means 5 million eligible¹¹ voters in Hong Kong will be able to choose their leader through "one person, one vote" from among the hopefuls nominated by a nominating committee.

1 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

2 tightened   

收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。

3 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

4 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

5 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

6 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

7 suffrage   

n.投票，选举权，参政权

参考例句：

• The question of woman suffrage sets them at variance.妇女参政的问题使他们发生争执。
• The voters gave their suffrage to him.投票人都投票选他。

8 reiterate   

v.重申，反复地说

参考例句：

• Let me reiterate that we have absolutely no plans to increase taxation.让我再一次重申我们绝对没有增税的计划。
• I must reiterate that our position on this issue is very clear.我必须重申我们对这一项议题的立场很清楚。

9 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

10 garner   

v.收藏；取得

参考例句：

• He has garnered extensive support for his proposals.他的提议得到了广泛的支持。
• Squirrels garner nuts for the winter.松鼠为过冬储存松果。

11 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。