The chairman and vice chairpersons of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee decided Monday morning that at its ninth meeting, the committee will consider and make a decision concerning the report submitted by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa on whether the methods for selecting the SAR chief executive in 2007 and for forming the Legislative Council in 2008 need to be amended.

The meeting--the Standing Committee's ninth--will be held on April 25 and 26.

It was also decided Monday that the chief executive's report would be delivered to State Council departments for detailed study, and special personnel assigned to hear opinions from NPC deputies and members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) from Hong Kong, HK members of the Committee for the Basic Law of the SAR under the NPC Standing Committee, people from all segments of Hong Kong society and the Constitutional Task Force under the SAR government.

Tung said last week that the methods for selecting the chief executive in 2007 and for forming the Legislative Council in 2008 should be amended to enable Hong Kong's constitutional development to move forward.

Tung stressed at a news briefing that certain key factors must be considered in making any amendment.

He said that Hong Kong must heed the central authorities' views in examining the direction and pace of its constitutional development. Further, any proposed amendments must comply with the Basic Law, and no proposed amendment may affect the central authorities' substantive power of appointment of the chief executive. Proposed amendments must aim at consolidating the executive-led system and must not deviate from its principle.

Tung also stated that development toward the ultimate goal of universal suffrage must progress in a gradual and orderly manner.

A number of factors must be taken into account when considering issues, said Tung: public opinion, Hong Kong's legal status, the present stage of constitutional development, economic development, social conditions, the public's understanding of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law, public awareness of political participation, political talent and political groups' maturity and the relationship between executive authorities and the legislature.

Proposed changes must represent the various sectors of the political structure, and enable them to participate in politics. Finally, Tung noted, proposed alterations must ensure that consideration continues to be given to different sectors' interests and the changes must not have any adverse effects on the economy, monetary affairs, public finance and other systems as prescribed in the Basic Law.

(China Daily April 20, 2004)