HK's 60-member Legislative Council (LegCo) on Thursday passed the electoral method for selecting HK's Chief Executive in 2012 by a two-thirds majority after 13 hours of debate since Wednesday.

A total of 46 lawmakers voted Yes, 13 lawmakers voted No. Lawmaker Jasper Tsang did not vote since he is LegCo President.

According to the Amendment to the Method for the Selection of the Chief Executive, the number of the Election Committee to elect the fourth term Chief Executive in 2012 shall be increased from 800 to 1,200.

The composition of the 1,200-member committee shall be divided evenly into four sectors -- Industrial, commercial and financial sectors; The professions; Labor, social services, religious and other sectors; as well as members of the Legislative Council, representatives of members of the District Councils, representatives of the Heung Yee Kuk, Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress, and HK's representatives of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Candidates for the office of HK Chief Executive should be jointly nominated by no less than 150 members of the Election Committee.

The Basic Law and the decision by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) in December 2007 provide that the methods of selecting the HK's Chief Executive and on forming the LegCo in 2012 may be revised in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress.

The method for selecting HK's Chief Executive will take effect after receiving the consent of Chief Executive Donald Tsang and being reported to the NPCSC for approval.

The method for forming the LegCo would be discussed and debated in following sessions.