Initiating any changes to the methods for selecting the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council without having a broad consensus will only cause the community disappointment, Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang says.

He told legislators at the council's Constitutional Affairs Panel meeting today that any related changes must be initiated when a consensus has been reached among the council, the Chief Executive and the Central Government.

According to the Basic Law, bills that relate to the political structure should only be introduced to the Legislative Council by the Government.

Noting the matter involves political structure and cannot be handled by Hong Kong only, he asked legislators not to link the matter with the issue of "high degree of autonomy".

Interpretations will provide a firm foundation to move on

Mr Tsang said the National People's Congress Standing Committee's interpretations on Basic Law Annexes I & II comply with the Constitution and the Basic Law, and will provide a firm foundation for Hong Kong to move on to the next stage of its constitutional development work.

He said he has told the committee representative Hong Kong people's concerns over the issue, including its influence on Hong Kong's independent judiciary and the city's high degree of autonomy. The representative understood the concerns, he said.

"They reiterated the committee will interpret, according to law, the legislative provisions in the Basic Law. The objective was to enable all parties concerned to grasp clearly the basis of the legislative process, on which Hong Kong's constitutional development will be explored," Mr Tsang said.

The Constitutional Development Task Force is now studying public views on principle issues and a report is expected to be completed next month.