CCTV9英语新闻：Lawmakers set to debate on universal suffrage plan

Hong Kong is preparing for a crucial vote on election reform. The special administrative region’s Legislative Council will debate a reform package that will give as many as five million people a more direct say in who will become the city’s next chief executive. After the debate, 70 regional lawmakers will vote on the package.

A crucial week for Hong Kong. The political reform package – which, for the first time will allow as many as five million eligible voters to pick Hong Kong’s next chief executive in 2017 –will be debated by the Special Administrative Region’s Legislative Council.

Passage will require a two-thirds majority of the council’s 70 lawmakers.

"This is a chance that we put forward Hong Kong’s democracy road, by passing the political reform package. Because this is what Hong Kong people really want," Former Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-Hwa said. 

Protesters say the reforms don’t go far enough, because a Hong Kong electoral committee will still select who will be on the ballot.

Those who support the reforms say a failure to pass them could provoke more illegal protests that will make Hong Kong’s economy less competitive.

"If it’s not passed, I’m afraid lots of things in the society will be dragged with no strength moving forward, as we’re already in a society that’s heavily divided. Up until now, per capita GDP of Singapore is 40 times higher than Hong Kong," Tung said.

When the University of Hong Kong polled more than five thousand voter-age citizens on the proposed reforms earlier this month, a majority of those polled gave it a "thumbs up."

When asked whether the reform package should pass, 51% of respondents answered "yes" 37% of respondents said lawmakers should vote it down.

Here outside of the Legislative Council building, hundreds of tents have occupied the road, which reminds us the huge Occupy Central protest last year. The protesters vow to stage large street occupations again, despite warnings from the police that it is illegal.

Just two days before the council vote, Hong Kong police say they arrested nine people on suspicion of conspiracy to manufacture explosives.

The highly unstable explosives were seized right here in Sai Kung. As you can see behind me, the area was sealed off by the police. Nine suspects including 5 men and 4 women were being held for questioning, but it’s still when, how and why the explosives were here.

For security, around 8,000 police will be deployed outside of the Legislative Council building during the debate.

Hong Kong’s Chief Secretary, Carrie Lam, appealed to opposition lawmakers to vote for the government reforms.

At this crucial moment in Hong Kong’s political development, both sides are making last ditch efforts to win public support.