Proposals give veto power to Beijing, says Martin Lee.

(From South China Morning Post)

Byline: Klaudia Lee

Pro-democracy lawmakers last night warned the conclusion drawn by the government's taskforce on constitutional reform had put a hurdle in the way of efforts to initiate change in electoral arrangements for the chief executive and the legislature in 2007 and 2008.

The taskforce said Beijing had first to agree to any such proposal.

But Hong Kong Bar Association chairman Edward Chan King-sang said he agreed with the report and dismissed suggestions that it would set conditions on the city's constitutional development.

Democratic Party lawmaker Martin Lee Chu-ming said the …