Hong Kong's wealthiest person, Li Ka-shing, urges lawmakers to pass election reforms

HONG KONG, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- The richest person in Hong Kong urged lawmakers to pass election reforms that would allow a pro-Chinese government committee to nominate political candidates in 2017 elections.

Li Ka-shing, a businessman who, according to Forbes, is worth over $33 billion, said the damage to Hong Kong would be "immeasurable" if the reforms failed to pass.

"The constitutional reform has to make a step forward," Ka-shing said, according to the BBC. "If not, all Hong Kong people, including me, will be big losers. Both you and me."

The reforms, which were one cause of the two-month demonstrations in Hong Kong late last year, would force all candidates for 2017 elections in the region to be vetted by a pro-Beijing committee, which would narrow selection down to two or three desirable candidates. Hong Kong currently uses a 1,200-member election committee, which will remain if the reforms are blocked.

Pro-democracy lawmakers, who have the numbers to veto legislation, have pledged to oppose the reforms, saying they represent "fake democracy" by allowing the Chinese government to control who runs for office.

The Chinese government has agreed to 2017 elections only if the reforms are passed.

"I hope the constitutional reform will pass under any circumstance," Ka-shing said, according to the BBC. "This is the first step. If there's no first step, then where is the second step? How can we push forward democracy?"