HONG KONG, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Democratic legislators in Hong Kong Monday called on Chief Executive Donald Tsang to take them to Beijing to make their case for democracy to China's leaders.
The lawmakers also urged Tsang to withdraw his political reform bill, which makes only minor changes to the current electoral system, and come up with one that includes a timetable for universal suffrage in the territory, Radio Television Hong Kong reported.
The request followed a march for democracy by some 80,000 people through the city streets Sunday, ahead of a vote in the legislature on the proposed reform bill.
China's central government has vetoed universal suffrage before 2008 and has indicated, through unofficial channels, that it will not approve any timetable for democratic reforms after that date.
Executive Councilor Anthony Cheung said on an RTHK radio program that the central government should not ignore public opinion, and that the democratic camp and the Hong Kong government should work together to find a way forward toward greater democracy in the territory.
