A website will be set up early next week to facilitate more focused and widespread discussion on constitutional development issues relating to principles and legislative process in the Basic Law, Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang says.

Concluding a Beijing visit today, Mr Tsang said the Government was taking the move in view of people's concerns regarding constitutional development, and the issues to which the Mainland authorities had asked the Government to pay attention.

Mainland's concern: principles, legislative process

He noted that following exchanges with the relevant Mainland authorities, the Task Force on Constitutional Development had initially identified the Mainland's concerns about issues of principles and legislative process relating to constitutional development within the political structure enshrined by the Basic Law.

The task force will now promote discussion about these issues in Hong Kong.

Mr Tsang and his team have learned that:

* the Mainland authorities have serious concerns about Hong Kong's future constitutional development, because the matter will affect the implementation of 'One Country, Two Systems' and the Basic Law, the relationship between the Central People's Government and Hong Kong, the interests of various sectors of the community, and the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong;

* the Mainland authorities consider that as the principles enshrined in the Basic Law are the foundation of Hong Kong's political structure, the future constitutional development must be in line with the relevant principles and legislative process in the Basic Law; and 

* the Hong Kong & Macau Affairs Office and the National People's Congress Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission agree that the issues on principles in the Basic Law, which the task force have identified at this stage, are also areas of concern to the Mainland authorities.

The task force set out three areas concerning issues of principle in the Basic Law in the paper submitted to the Legislative Council's Constitutional Affairs Panel on January 14. For details, click here.

The task force noted that the Mainland authorities considered that the methods for electing the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council must fully implement and realise the above principles and be in accordance with the Basic Law.

HK's prosperity, stability must be maintained

The Mainland authorities have also indicated that the concept of 'One Country, Two Systems' cannot be segregated and that 'Two Systems' is premised on 'One Country'. The development of Hong Kong's political structure must maintain prosperity and stability, and Hong Kong should fully consult the Mainland authorities.

"During the meeting with the office, I have forwarded to them the submissions that the task force received from 10 organisations and individuals, and have informed them that most of these organisations and individuals have aspirations on constitutional development, and hope that the existing structure could evolve," Mr Tsang said.

"I have also mentioned to Mr Xu that the 10 organisations and individuals whom the task force have met all accept that the Central Authorities have the constitutional powers to oversee the constitutional development in Hong Kong. They also agree that the development of Hong Kong's political structure should be in accordance with 'One Country, Two Systems' and the Basic Law."

Rational discussion to strive for consensus

It is hoped that the Hong Kong community will discuss these issues of principles rationally and thoroughly and strive for consensus, Mr Tsang said, adding that the next step in our discussions on constitutional development must be to build upon these issues of principle and legislative process.

The task force will continue discussions with the Mainland authorities on this complex matter of constitutional development.

It will also meet with organisations and individuals, and garner more public views as soon as possible.