HK universal suffrage sure to be achieved: paper

BEIJING -- The goal of universal suffrage for selecting the chief executive and forming the Legislative Council of Hong Kong is sure to be reached, a white paper said Tuesday.

The central government continues its support for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in developing a system of democratic governance that suits the actual conditions in Hong Kong in a gradual and orderly manner, said the paper issued by the State Council Information Office on elaborating the practice of the "one country, two systems" policy in Hong Kong.

It is the central government's commitment to reach the ultimate aims that the chief executive is elected by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee and all the members of the Legislative Council are elected by universal suffrage, the paper said.

As long as all sectors of the Hong Kong society hold pragmatic discussions and build a consensus based on the above principles, the goals are sure to be reached, it said.

The system of universal suffrage must serve the country's sovereignty, security and development interests, tally with Hong Kong's actual conditions, take into consideration the interests of all social strata, give expression to the principle of equal participation, and be conducive to the development of capitalism in Hong Kong, the paper said.

The paper said the central government has always firmly supported the chief executive and the HKSAR government in fulfilling their main tasks of developing economy and improving people's livelihood.

The paper also stressed that the chief executive to be elected by universal suffrage must be a person who loves the country and Hong Kong.

The region must be governed by the Hong Kong people with patriots as the mainstay. Otherwise, the practice of "one country, two systems" in the region will deviate from its right direction, thus seriously jeopardizing Hong Kong's stability and prosperity as well as people's wellbeing, the paper said.