Hong Kong lawmakers reject Beijing poll plan

Lawmakers have vetoed a Beijing - backed proposal that would have allowed citizens of the semi-autonomous Chinese territory to vote for their chief executive for the first time – but only from pre-screened candidates
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CURRENT SYSTEM

ELECTION COMMITTEE (EC) 1,200 members of political and economic elite – largely loyal to Beijing

EC elects chief executive for five-year term with simple majority vote

PROPOSAL FOR 2017

NOMINATING COMMITTEE (NC) 1,200

members NC modelled on existing election committee

NC elects up to three candidates. Each candidate needs support of more than 50% of members.

Pro-democracy lawmakers argued that Beijing's pre-screening of candidates was tantamount to Chinese-style "fake democracy"

Leung Chun-ying Current chief executive, elected in 2012

Popular vote: 5m eligible voters choose one candidate

Only eight of 70-member legislative council voted in favour of motion after most supporters left chamber before vote
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Pictures: Associated Press

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