The Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau will launch the public consultation exercise on the 2012 electoral arrangements for returning the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council this month.

In response to legislator Ronnie Tong's remarks in the Letter to Hong Kong radio programme today, the bureau said the Central Government has showed its determination to attain universal suffrage for Hong Kong by making the timetable clear.

Although universal suffrage will not be implemented in 2012, the Government is determined to further democratise the electoral arrangements for 2012 to pave the way for implementing universal suffrage in 2017 and 2020.

The Chief Executive will meet lawmakers November 6 to listen to their views before the public consultation launches.

After summarising the views received in the consultation exercise, the Government will present to LegCo the proposed amendments to Annexes I and II of the Basic Law and strive to get LegCo's endorsement, the bureau said, adding the revisions will need to get the Chief Executive's consent and be reported to the National People's Congress Standing Committee for approval or for the record.

The Government hopes this process can be completed in 2010, and legislators will not jump to the conclusion the Government's proposal will not enhance the democratic elements of the electoral system in 2012 even before it has been introduced.

Noting it is the constitutional responsibility of both the Government and legislators to take forward Hong Kong's democratic development in 2012, the bureau called upon political parties and groups, and the community to keep an open mind and be accommodating, and to work together with the Government towards securing a consensus for implementing universal suffrage in 2017 and 2020.