Chinese top legislature Thursday said that it has received the report on Hong Kong's constitutional development submitted by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa.
Hong Kong Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung, entrusted by Tung, came to Beijing Thursday to submit the report to the National People's Congress Standing Committee.
The report, on whether to amend methods for selecting Hong Kong's chief executive in 2007 and for formation of the Legislative Council in 2008, has been accepted by Deputy Secretary-General of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Qiao Xiaoyang, who was entrusted by the meeting of NPC Standing Committee chairpersons.
On the basis of the NPC Standing Committee's interpretation of Hong Kong Basic Law annexes on April 6, the chief executive submitted the report after consideration of relevant regulations in the Basic Law and all other factors, said Lam.
The report asked the NPC Standing Committee to confirm whether to amend methods for selecting Hong Kong's chief executive and for the formation of the Legislative Council.
The report and its annex will be immediately submitted to the meeting of the NPC Standing Committee chairs, said Qiao.
The NPC Standing Committee will discuss the report in accordance with relevant laws and legal procedures, and make decisions abiding by Article 45 and 68 of the Basic Law as well as on the basis of Hong Kong's reality and the step-by-step principle, he said.
The "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong," and high-degree autonomy principles must continue to be observed strictly in implementation of the Basic Law, he said, expressing confidence that Hong Kong's democratic systems will be boosted in a healthy and stable fashion.
(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2004)
