Chinese senior officials today met with more than 80 Hong Kong lawyers in Shenzhen to exchange views about the tenure of the new chief executive to be elected in a July 10 by-election.

Deputy Secretary-General of the National's People's Congress Qiao Xiaoyang explained at the meeting the original meanings of the related articles of the Basic Law.

Under the current system, officials stressed, the by-elected chief executive's tenure could only be the remaining tenure of the former chief executive, that is two years - not a whole new five-year term.

Also present were Deputy Director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee Li Fei and Deputy Director of the Hong Kong & Macau Affairs Office of the State Council Zhang Xiaoming.