Consensus sought: Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam hopes the Strategic Development Commission can further narrow differences on universal suffrage at its next meeting on April 12.

Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam says discussion on models for electing the Chief Executive by universal suffrage has achieved more progress than that on models for forming the Legislative Council.

Mr Lam told reporters today the Government hopes the Strategic Development Commission can further narrow differences on universal suffrage at its next meeting on April 12.

The Government will summarise the discussions in mid-2007 and publish a Green Paper on constitutional development. A public consultation for three months will be launched.

3 major options

On the progress of discussion the on CE election model, he said members have reduced the scope of discussion on the nominating committee's composition and size to three major options. They are:

* to form the nominating committee by less than 800 members;

* to form the nominating committee by 800 members; or,

* to form the nominating committee with more than 800 members.

He said some members suggest increasing the size to 1,200 to 1,600 members. A member proposed enlarging the size of the committee to 3,200 members.

On possible models for forming the Legislative Council by universal suffrage, members have focused the discussion on three main types of options:

* abolishing all functional constituencies seats;

* retaining the functional constituencies seats in some form, but changes could be made to the electoral system; and,

* attaining universal suffrage for LegCo in phases.

Timetable issue

Mr Lam said the discussion on models for electing the CE by universal suffrage has been more focused while there are still significant differences among members on models for forming LegCo.

The Government suggests that the commission discusses whether universal suffrage for the CE should precede that for LegCo.