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NPC decision favours gradual electoral changes in HK
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-04-27 00:24

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) adopted a decision in Beijing Monday which favours modification of existing electoral methods for the selection of Hong Kong's chief executive in 2007 and formation of the Legislative Council in 2008, but rules out the possibility of universal suffrage for the upcoming elections.

The decision, made in response to Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa's report on whether such methods need to be amended, "is in the overall and long-term interest of the Hong Kong society and conducive to the maintenance of the long-term prosperity and stability of the region," said Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.

The voting result is shown on a big screen. [Xinhua]

"The method of universal suffrage shall not apply" to the election of the Third Chief Executive of the HKSAR in 2007, nor to the election of all members of the Fourth Legislative Council of the HKSAR in 2008, the decision said.

The half-by-half ratio for members of the Council from functional groups and by direct elections in constituencies shall remain unchanged, it said, adding the procedures for voting on bills and motions in the Legislative Council shall remain unchanged.

However, the decision said that specific methods for selecting the Chief Executive in 2007 and forming the Legislative Council in 2008 could be "appropriately modified" in the principle of gradual and orderly progress and in accordance with the Basic Law.

The decision was passed at Monday's meeting with 156 approvals, one abstention and no objection.

The NPC Standing Committee explained in the decision that Hong Kong's history for democratic election is not long, and it has been no more than seven years since Hong Kong residents have exercised the democratic rights of participating in selecting the HKSAR Chief Executive.

Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the number of directly elected members in the Legislative Council has increased remarkably. After half of the members are directly elected in constituencies and half are elected by functional groups, the influence of the directly-elected members upon Hong Kong society's general operation, especially the influence upon the executive-led mechanism is yet to be tested by practice, it said.

Moreover, various social circles in Hong Kong currently still have considerable differences about methods for selecting the chief executive and for forming the Legislative Council after 2007, and no broad consensus has been reached yet, it noted.

Under such circumstances, conditions do not satisfy the general election of the chief executive and the general election of all Legislative Council members, the decision said.

The NPC Standing Committee said, "it is the consistent stance of the Central Authorities" to develop democracy in Hong Kong in the principle of gradual and orderly progress and in the light of specific conditions of the region, in accordance with the Basic Law of Hong Kong.

The final goal will surely be reached as provided for by the Basic Law that the chief executive will be elected through universal suffrage after nomination by a nomination committee with broad representation through democratic procedures, and all the members of the Legislative Council be elected through universal suffrage, the decision said.

In a speech upon adoption of the Decision at the legislative meeting, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Wu Bangguo said that it demonstrates the great importance and concern of the Central Authorities attached to the constitutional development in the region.

"The central authorities have been very prudent in handling issues of constitutional development in Hong Kong," he said, noting that "every step taken (by the central authorities) has rigorously accorded with provisions and procedures stipulated by the law."

The decision, based on the deliberation of Tung's report and opinions from all circles from Hong Kong, is "a major policy guideline" the NPC Standing Committee has made in accordance with law, and will be of tremendous and profound significance to the gradual and orderly progress of constitutional development and long-term prosperity and stability of the region, Wu pointed out.

The decision also "reflects the persistent stance of the central authorities in advocating and supporting the development of democracy in the HKSAR," he said.

President Hu Jintao expressed the central authorities' concern and stance over Hong Kong's constitutional development in a meeting with Tung in December 2003, which was followed by a series of research and consultation work by relevant departments of the central authorities, with opinions from various circles in Hong Kong solicited.

Wu quoted late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, designer of the "one country, two systems," as saying that "Hong Kong's stability, besides economic prosperity, also means a stable political system."

The establishment and development of a democratic system in any country or region can only be achieved through gradual advancement and must proceed step by step in line with its actual conditions and with more and more experiences, Wu stressed.

"It will be vindicated by facts that the decision the NPC Standing Committee has made is in the overall and long-term interest of the Hong Kong society and conducive to the maintenance of the long-term prosperity and stability of the region," Wu said. Deputy Secretary-General of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Qiao Xiaoyang, together with two other central authorities officials, arrived in Hong Kong Monday afternoon to attend forums on NPC Standing Committee's decision on Hong Kong's constitutional development.

Qiao Xiaoyang, Vice-Chairman of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee Li Fei and Deputy Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Xu Ze came at the invitation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in HKSAR.

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