The SAR government yesterday reaffirmed that it would open up further for the selection of the chief executive (CE) in 2007 and forming of the Legislative Council (LegCo) in 2008.

A spokesman for the Constitutional Affairs Bureau (CAB) reiterated the commitment in response to a US report, "Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The US Record 2004-2005", released on March 28. The annual report, published by the US State Department, is complementary to the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

The one released on Monday said Hong Kong's political system was limiting the public's ability to select and control the SAR government. To which the CAB spokesman said the Constitutional Development Task Force, led by Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang, has been consulting the public on the possible changes to be made in the two procedures.

Since under the Basic Law, any amendment requires the CE's consent, the government would consult the CE to be elected on July 10 before publishing the task force's fifth report. The consultation period for the fourth report has been extended till May 31 to give the community more time to reach a consensus, he said.

"We will try to publish the fifth report in the later half of this year, and complete all necessary legislative work before the election of the third-term CE in 2007," he said.

On the National People's Congress Standing Committee's (NPCSC) April 2004 decision, the spokesman said: "In making the decision, NPCSC was acting in accordance with the provisions in the PRC Constitution and the Basic Law."

(China Daily HK Edition March 30, 2005)