Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong Li Gang has met with representatives of the Democratic Party to discuss the city's constitutional development.

The Hong Kong Government welcomed the meeting, saying today's session allowed the party to express its views to the Central Government directly. It said it hoped the discussion will create a rational and pragmatic environment for Hong Kong and help the community narrow differences and forge consensus on the proposed constitutional development package for 2012.

This can then pave the way for implementing universal suffrage for the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council in 2017 and 2020, it added.

Debate arrangements

Meanwhile, Chief Executive's Office Director Raymond Tam said the objective of the televised debate between the Chief Executive and Civic Party Leader and "five district referendum movement" spokesperson Audrey Eu is to provide a conducive environment for arguments of both sides to be articulated in a clear, structured and comprehensive manner.

Mr Tam said 7 million Hong Kong people can watch the debate, adding the design and format proposed by the Chief Executive is appropriate to achieve the objective.

"But of course, the details of the debate will have to be worked out on both sides, and therefore, from today onwards, representatives from the Chief Executive's Office as well as the office of Audrey Eu would have the first working meeting. When we come to an agreement, we would report such an agreement to the media and to the Hong Kong people."

Noting the debate is one of the many ways to explain the Government's 2012 constitutional reform proposals, he said the Government will continue to elaborate the rationale behind its package through other channels.