(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-29 15:44

Beijing -- Wu Bangguo, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said Saturday that the approved decision on selecting chief executive and the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as well as universal suffrage is "far-reaching" for a long prosperity and stability in Hong Kong.

The NPC Standing Committee considered at its 31st session the "Report on the Public Consultation on Constitutional Development and on whether there is a need to amend the methods for selecting the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and for forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2012" submitted by HKSAR Chief Executive Tsang Yam-kuen on December 12.

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The NPC Standing Committee approved that 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 committee also decided that the election of the fifth HKSAR chief executive in the year 2017 may be implemented by universal suffrage.

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.

Wu said the decision is significant to comprehensively implement the principle of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing the HKSAR," and the high degree of autonomy, as well as the HKSAR Basic Law.

It will also ensure the gradual, progressive and healthy constitutional development in Hong Kong in line with the HKSAR Basic Law, while maintaining and promoting long prosperity and stability in Hong Kong, Wu said.

The committee decided that the election of the fourth HKSAR Chief Executive in the year 2012 shall not be implemented by the method of universal suffrage. The election of the fifth term HKSAR Legislative Council in the year 2012 shall not be implemented by the method of electing all the members by universal suffrage.

The half-and-half ratio between members returned by functional constituencies and members returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections shall remain unchanged. The procedures for voting on bills and motions in the Legislative Council shall remain unchanged, the committee decided.

The committee decided that at an appropriate time prior to the selection of the HKSAR Chief Executive and the HKSAR Legislative Council by universal suffrage, the Chief Executive shall make a report to the NPC Standing Committee as regards the issue of amending the method for selecting the Chief Executive and forming the Legislative Council.

The bills on the amendments to the method for selecting the Chief Executive and forming the Legislative Council and the proposed amendments to such bills shall be introduced by the HKSAR government to the Legislative Council.

Such amendments must be made with the endorsement of a two-thirds majority of all the members of the Legislative Council and the consent of the Chief Executive and they shall be reported to the NPC Standing Committee for approval, according to the decision.

Wu said the NPC Standing Committee reviewed Chief Executive Tsang's December 12 report and made the decision strictly in line with the legislative procedure. The NPC Standing Committee meeting of chairman and vice chairmen decided on December 17 to include review on Tsang's report in the agenda of the 31st session of the NPC Standing Committee, which concluded Saturday.

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