Qiao Xiaoyang, deputy secretary general of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s top legislature, held meetings in Shenzhen on Wednesday and Thursday to solicit views from Hong Kong representatives of a variety of sectors on Hong Kong’s constitutional development.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa submitted a report to the NPC Standing Committee earlier this month with recommendations on how to select a chief executive in 2007 and form the Legislative Council in 2008.

Tung’s report will be considered by the NPC Standing Committee on April 25 and 26 during its regular session in Beijing.

Qiao was selected to meet with and hear the views of the Hong Kong NPC deputies and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee members, members of the Basic Law Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the NPC Standing Committee, and representatives of industry, commerce, finance, social services and religion.

Qiao also exchanged views with the SAR’s Constitutional Development Task Force on Tung’s report.

During the meetings, Hong Kong representatives from various walks of life expressed their views on the methods for the selection of the chief executive in 2007 and the formation of the Legislative Council in 2008.

Many of them believe necessary amendments to the methods for selecting the chief executive and forming the Legislative Council must be made gradually, in good order and according to the practical situation in Hong Kong.

They said amendments should also be conducive to balanced representation of different social strata and different walks of life, the sound operation of the executive-led governance system, and the maintenance of the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

(China Daily April 23, 2004)