(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-29 15:01

BEIJING -- Qiao Xiaoyang, deputy secretary-general of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), delivered an explanation of the draft decision on Hong Kong's constitutional development on Saturday to the 31st session of the 10th NPC Standing Committee.

Qiao said it is both necessary and feasible and with adequate legal basis to amend relating regulations of and set a timetable for universal suffrage for the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and all the members of the legislative council of HKSAR.

According to the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, appropriate amendments may be made to the specific method for selecting the fourth HKSAR chief executive and the specific method for forming the fifth term HKSAR Legislative Council in the year 2012. The election of the fifth HKSAR chief executive in the year 2017 may be implemented by the method of universal suffrage, said Qiao.

After the chief executive is selected by universal suffrage, the election of the HKSAR Legislative Council may be implemented by the method of electing all the members by universal suffrage, he said.

Qiao made detailed explanation about the amendments to the specific method for selecting the fourth HKSAR chief executive and the specific method for forming the fifth term HKSAR Legislative Council in the year 2012, the timetable for universal suffrage of the HKSAR chief executive and legislative council, and other major issues of the draft decision.

Related: NPC decision on HK constitutional development