Speaking out: Chief Executive Donald Tsang says the Strategic Development Commission's committee on governance and political development will conduct a two-stage discussion on the arrangements for universal suffrage.

The Strategic Development Commission's committee on governance and political development will conduct a two-stage discussion on the arrangement for universal suffrage, Chief Executive Donald Tsang says.

The committee held its first meeting today. Mr Tsang, who chaired the committee, said he hoped it could conclude the discussion during his term of office.

He said during the first stage, the committee will discuss the principals and concepts relating to universal suffrage. He expects the group to come to a preliminary conclusion next summer.

In the second stage, the group will discuss the design of the universal suffrage systems for the Chief Executive and Legislative Council. He hoped there would be a conclusion by early 2007.

With a concrete design of the electoral systems, the Government could continue to work on the timetable for universal suffrage, he added.

Mr Tsang said committee members had raised their views on universal suffrage at today's meeting, adding some members believed the elections for Chief Executive and LegCo could be treated separately.

Forum set for Friday

The committee will meet twice a month and its next meeting will be held on January 20.

Meanwhile, a forum on Hong Kong's constitutional development will be held in Shenzhen on Friday.

National People's Congress Standing Committee Deputy Secretary-General Qiao Xiaoyang, the congress' Legislative Affairs Commission Vice-Chairman Li Fei, and Hong Kong & Macau Affairs Office Vice-Minister Zhang Xiaoming will address the forum.

Chairmen and vice-chairmen of the LegCo committees, the District Councils Chairmen and members of various sectors will join the forum at Wuzhou Guest House.