The Hong Kong government has formally set in motion a controversial overhaul of its electoral system by recommending changes to existing laws in a submission to policy makers in Beijing.
Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying on Tuesday released his initial report on how the former British colony should change its voting system to meet the pledge of introducing universal suffrage in 2017.
The report will then be delivered to the Chinese leadership to determine what, if any, amendments are needed to Hong Kong’s Basic Law, which is similar to a mini-constitution.
The issue of how Hong Kong will give its citizens the vote has been a source of rising tension in the city, prompting large street protests from pro-democracy campaigners who believe that the planned reforms are inadequate.