The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, China's top legislature, on Wednesday approved a decision to permit appropriate modification to the methods for selecting Macao's chief executive and forming its legislative council in accordance with the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Basic Law.

According to the decision, the current methods for selecting chief executives by an electoral committee and the current system of forming the legislative council of the Macao SAR with members either directly elected, indirectly elected or commissioned must be maintained.

However, with the premise of the current methods and system, measures regarding the selection of Macao's chief executive and the formation of its legislative council can be "appropriately modified" in accordance with the Macao SAR Basic Law.

The decision stressed that any modification must be made in line with Macao's current situation and in a manner that contributes to the stability of Macao's basic political system, local people's benefits and the long-term prosperity and development of Macao.

The decision was made after deliberating a report submitted by the Macao SAR chief executive on whether it is necessary to amend the methods for forming the Legislative Assembly of the SAR in 2013 and measures for selecting Macao SAR chief executive in 2014.

The People's Republic of China has resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Macao since Dec. 20, 1999.