Hong Kong's richest person Li Ka-shing urges lawmakers to pass electoral reforms

Hong Kong's richest person, Li Ka-shing, has urged lawmakers to pass controversial constitutional reforms that will change how the region's leader is elected.

Terming the electoral reform "the first step" towards democracy, he warned that the damage caused to Hong Kong could be "immeasurable" if the reform process is stalled, reported the BBC.

The government hopes to pass reforms that will pave the way for public elections for the region's leader in 2017. However, under these reforms, candidates contesting the election must be approved by a committee.

Arguing that the reforms proposed by the government offer residents "fake democracy," the pro-democracy lawmakers have criticised the reforms and vowed to veto them.

Thousands of protesters held a two-month-long protest against Beijing's decision to vet candidates in 2017 elections.