The Basic Law has set universal suffrage as the ultimate aim for Hong Kong's constitutional development, the Constitutional Affairs Bureau says, adding it also represents the common aspiration shared by the Central Authorities, the Government and the public.

In response to a procession today, the bureau said the Central Authorities and the Government are firmly committed to promoting constitutional development to achieve the ultimate aim of universal suffrage in accordance with the Basic Law.

The Chief Executive has made it clear that he will endeavour to take forward discussions within the community on the issue of implementing universal suffrage, with a view to coming up with a solution within his new term.

He has undertaken to publish a Green Paper on constitutional development in mid-2007, after the third-term Government has been formed in July, to consult the public on the options, roadmap and timetable for implementing universal suffrage.

No conclusion drawn 

At this stage, the Government has not drawn any conclusions on the model for implementing universal suffrage, and has not rejected any proposal. The Green Paper will cover all proposals received.

Any proposals put forth for discussion by the community should be consistent with the Basic Law, and should not require any amendments to the main provisions of the Basic Law, the bureau reiterated.

The Government will consult the public widely on the Green Paper and will listen to the views of Legislative Council members, individuals from different sectors and strata, as well as district personalities.

Following the end of the three-month public consultation period, it will summarise the views of the community and assess whether there is a foundation for it to come up with a set of mainstream views for taking the work to the next phase.

To form a mainstream view within the community, different political parties, organisations and individuals must build on common ground and accommodate mutual differences, and must be willing to consider the proposals of other people seriously with an open mind, to secure a consensus for implementing universal suffrage in Hong Kong, the bureau stressed.

The Government will submit a report to the Central Authorities reflecting faithfully any mainstream views formed and other views expressed.