(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-29 20:25

Qiao said based on those results, the HKSAR Chief Executive's report said: "It will be more likely to get support from the majority of Hong Kong society if the universal suffrage of Chief Executive can be adopted no later than 2017."

According to this, members of the NPC Standing Committee hold that not to adopt "double universal suffrage" for Chief Executive Election and Legislative Council election or "universal suffrage" for one of them in 2012, but choose to make amendments in an orderly and gradual way, is based on public opinions and is appropriate.

Thirdly, the relevant regulations of HKSAR Basic Law concerning the election of the members of Legislative Council returned by functional constituencies form an institutional arrangement which is issued in accordance with the real situation of Hong Kong.

The good operation of the system shows that it is beneficial to all the social strata of Hong Kong and the balanced political participation of all social circles and the development of capital economy.

Therefore, the decision said that the half-and-half ratio between members returned by functional constituencies and members returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections shall unchanged, he said.

Qiao said relevant articles of Annex II of the HKSAR Basic Law about the procedures for voting on bills and motions in the Legislative Council are compatible with the election system of the functional constituencies.

So the decision has kept the procedures for voting on bills and motions in the Legislative council "unchanged", Qiao said.

Qiao made explanation secondly to issues concerning the timetable of the election of the Chief Executive and the election of all the members of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage.

He said that Article 45 of the HKSAR Basic Law stipulates that "The method for selecting the Chief Executive shall be specified in the light of the actual situation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress. The ultimate aim is the selection of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures."

Article 68 said "The method for forming the Legislative Council shall be specified in the light of the actual situation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress. The ultimate aim is the election of all the members of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage."

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