The decision of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee on Hong Kong's constitutional development is fully based on Hong Kong citizens' aspirations, a leading official of the Liaison Office of China's Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said here Saturday.
While commenting on the decision about the HKSAR constitutional development adopted Saturday by China's top legislature, the official said, "The decision by the NPC Standing Committee accords with the actual situation in the HKSAR and complies with relevant provisions of the Basic Law of the HKSAR and relevant NPC Standing Committee interpretations."
"I believe the decision will be widely acknowledged by Hong Kong citizens because it has taken into full account of the aspirations of Hong Kong people," the official added.
The NPC Standing Committee decision is on issues relating to the methods for selecting the Chief Executive and for forming the Legislative Council of the HKSAR in 2012 and on issues relating to universal suffrage.
According to the decision, appropriate amendments conforming to the principle of gradual and orderly progress may be made to the specific method for selecting the Chief Executive and that for forming the Legislative Council of the HKSAR in 2012.
At the same time, the decision made clear that the election of the Chief Executive may be implemented in 2017 through universal suffrage, and that after the Chief Executive is selected by universal suffrage, the election of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR may be implemented by the method of electing all the council members through universal suffrage.
The official said citizens of Hong Kong have been engaged in wide-range and in-depth discussions on the issue of universal suffrage and that consensus on certain issues has been reached during the recent years.
"Therefore, the NPC Standing Committee's decision is fully based on the aspirations of the public," he said, adding, "The decision has charted a clearer direction for the constitutional development of the HKSAR in future and helps the community reduce internal disputes and focus on economic development and livelihood issues."
"It (the decision) is also conducive to social harmony, stability, prosperity and development of Hong Kong and to safeguarding Hong Kong's overall interests and the well-being of Hong Kong people," he said.
The official said he hoped that people from all walks of life and political parties and groups in Hong Kong will implement the NPC Standing Committee decision in a rational and pragmatic manner and create conditions for eventually realizing the goal of selecting the Chief Executive and forming the Legislative Council through universal suffrage in the principle of gradual and orderly progress.
"With concerted efforts by the HKSAR government and the public, I believe the democratic mechanism of Hong Kong will certainly keep progressing and the goal of universal suffrage stipulated in the Basic Law will certainly be achieved," he said.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article