The Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau has called on political parties and the community to focus on how the two electoral methods for 2012 can be further democratised.

In response to legislator Audrey Eu's remarks made on Radio Television Hong Kong's Letter to Hong Kong today, the bureau said it is the constitutional responsibility of both the Government and lawmakers to take forward the city's democratic development in 2012, paving the way for universal suffrage in 2017 and 2020.

It will not be conducive to implementing universal suffrage in 2017 and 2020 if the issue of how to change the 2012 electoral arrangements is ignored now.

The National People's Congress Standing Committee had made clear the universal suffrage timetable. When universal suffrage is implemented the Chief Executive should be elected in 2017 by all registered electors, i.e. - one-person-one-vote. Any universal suffrage model for the Legislative Council in 2020 should comply with the principles of universal and equal suffrage.

The Government will consult the public and the legislature on the electoral methods for the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council for 2012 in the fourth quarter.

It urges political parties and the community to keep an open mind and work with the Government towards securing a consensus to take forward Hong Kong's democratic development.