Forward looking: Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam hoped all parties concerned will see the package and accept it as a positive step forward.

The proposed constitutional reform package already has many democratic elements, Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam says, adding the Government will do its best to secure support for it in the Legislative Council in the next two months.

Talking to the media after attending RTHK's TV programme City Forum this afternoon, Mr Lam said there are no new functional constituencies in the traditional sense, no new chambers of commerce or trade unions or professional bodies, in the proposed package.

"Instead, we are relying very heavily on the broad electorate base of elected District Councillors. We believe this is a possible step forward," he said.

Mr Lam said the package will open up more seats in the Legislative Council and more room through the expansion of the Election Committee to groom more political talent, and to enable those who have a commitment to serve the Hong Kong public to take part in the election of the Chief Executive and in the work of the Legislative Council. 

He hoped all parties concerned, whether they belong to the pan-democratic camp or other political parties, will see this and accept this as a positive step forward.

Mr Lam stressed the Government is committed to securing consensus on the way forward for attaining universal suffrage in Hong Kong, saying that is why the Chief Executive is going to extend the membership of the Commission on Strategic Development. 

"And as part of that Commission, we will have a political sub-group to map out collectively the way forward on attaining universal suffrage," he said. 

The Government will invite members of political parties, academics, representatives of the business sector and trade unions and other participants to join the sub-group, so that it will act as a constitutional forum to generate consensus among the many strands of views in this community, Mr Lam added.