The Green Paper on Constitutional Development represents a significant milestone in Hong Kong's constitutional development, Chief Executive Donald Tsang says.

Rational discussion: Chief Executive Donald Tsang urges the community to express views on constitutional development in a rational, accommodating and open manner. Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam, Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang and Acting Permanent Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Arthur Ho explain the details of the green paper at a press conference.

Wide choices

Mr Tsang today told reporters that the green paper presents three types of options on the models, roadmap and timetable for implementing universal suffrage for the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council. The public can discuss and indicate their preferences on the different options.

It will be a remarkable achievement of Hong Kong if a mainstream option which is practicable, in compliance with the Basic Law, and consistent with public aspirations, can eventually become a reality, he added.

Noting the community has been engaging in discussion on the issue for years, he said it is now time to identify for Hong Kong a set of solutions to allow constitutional development to progress in a clear direction towards further political maturity in a steady manner.

Mr Tsang said consensus can only be reached with the participation of the political parties in LegCo and organisations from different quarters, as well as wide support among members of the public.

He hoped that a mainstream option will emerge which can secure two-thirds majority support in LegCo, and, with the consent of the Chief Executive, can stand a good chance of being accepted by the Central Government in accordance with the Basic Law.

"Our common goal is that, when universal suffrage is attained, aspirants, who are committed to serving the community and are capable of enhancing good governance in Hong Kong, will be elected as the CE and LegCo Members."

Nomination threshold

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Chief Secretary Henry Tang said the document has not offered any options for the nomination procedure of the Chief Executive election and the nomination threshold because the Government wants to give the public more room for discussion.

Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam added that it will be easier for the public to reach a consensus on the two subjects after they have decided the maximum number of candidates to be nominated by the nominating committee.

When asked whether the document's 'multiple choice' format would confuse the public, Mr Tang said the paper has highlighted all the key issues that need to be addressed. Noting the topic has been discussed for a long time, he believed Hong Kong people will be able to indicate specifically what they want. 

Asking the public to adopt a positive and accommodating attitude in discussing the issue, Mr Tang did not anticipate what will happen if the consultation exercise fails to come up with a mainstream view. However, he reiterated that the Government will try its best to lead the community to reach a consensus on universal suffrage.