The Government must emphasise that the proposed package put forth in the Fifth Report is extremely important for democratic development in Hong Kong. The Basic Law has set out clearly how the political system in Hong Kong should develop in the first 10 years after the Reunification. On this basis, we are now taking one step forward towards the ultimate aim of universal suffrage.

This package, both in terms of substance and historical significance, is a crucial and positive step forward. The main thrust of the proposed package is to increase the democratic representation in the method for selecting the Chief Executive by enhancing the level of participation of District Council members in the Election Committee. I hope Members would understand that the package has not come easily.

The SAR Government has conducted rounds of extensive public consultation for more than a year, and has made the greatest effort in finding the right balance amidst the various views and proposals of different sectors of the community. It has responded to the aspirations of the community for constitutional development, and has taken into account the interests of all strata and sectors of the community.

Democratic representation enhanced

Some Members regard the proposed package as a "rollback in democracy". I absolutely do not agree with this view. As a matter of fact, the proposed package will take forward democracy.

First, for the Election Committee to be formed in 2007, over one quarter of the membership, including more than 400 members returned by Legco direct elections and District Council elections, will be returned by more than three million registered voters in Hong Kong. In other words, over one quarter of the members of the Election Committee will have an electorate base of universal suffrage.

Second, the 529 members of the District Councils will take up almost one third of the seats in the Election Committee. It is envisaged that candidates for the office of Chief Executive will pay more attention to district affairs and the aspirations of the public.

Third, the package will help to enhance the status and role of the District Councils. If passed, the package will encourage more willing and able individuals to participate in District Council elections. This will facilitate further development of district administration, and thus help to nurture political talents and create favorable conditions for universal suffrage.

A package with public support

Since the proposed package was released in mid October this year, opinion polls conducted by various institutions have clearly indicated that it has the support of the community.

At the same time, these opinion polls also indicate that while there are aspirations in the community for a timetable for universal suffrage, most people do not want to see the Administration's proposals voted down because a specific timetable cannot be set at this stage. In other words, members of community hope that the 2007/08 proposed package can be passed, so that the two electoral methods can move forward. At the same time, they also hope that a timetable for universal suffrage can be set as soon as possible.

The SAR Government considers that both views are genuine and deserve respect, and that we should not use one view to deny the other. Most members of the public have their ideals and yet are pragmatic. They consider that we should endorse the package on electoral arrangements in 2007 and 2008 first, so as to move forward towards the ultimate aim of universal suffrage. At the same time, we should commence active discussion on the roadmap and timetable for universal suffrage.

Further, after the package of proposals was released, the Chief Secretary for Administration immediately proceeded to meeting all 18 District Councils to listen to their views on the proposed package. A total of 364 DC members had given their views. Regardless of whether appointed members are counted or not, the number of District Council members supporting the package is greater than that opposing. This is a reflection that the package has support at the district level.

A roadmap, timetable for universal suffrage

The Administration addresses the aspirations of the community for a roadmap and timetable for universal suffrage in a positive manner. The Committee on Governance and Political Development under the Commission on Strategic Development, chaired by the Chief Executive, held its first meeting on November 29, formally commencing the discussions within the Hong Kong community on a roadmap for universal suffrage.

As the Chief Executive has stated in public, the Government plans to take forward the relevant work in two stages. We will conduct discussions on principles and concepts relating to universal suffrage in the first stage.

A preliminary conclusion on these discussions will be drawn around summer next year. Then we will begin the second stage to study the design of the electoral systems for the Chief Executive and LegCo when attaining universal suffrage. Conclusion on these discussions will be drawn in early 2007. On the basis of the conclusions, discussions on a timetable for universal suffrage will commence. 

The ultimate aim of universal suffrage is clearly enshrined in the Basic Law. The stance of the Central Authorities towards universal suffrage is unequivocal. In his meeting with the Chief Executive on November 18, President Hu Jintao said that it had all along been the established position of the Central Government to support the HKSAR in the development of democratic system in accordance with the laws, and in the light of the actual situation in Hong Kong and in a gradual and orderly manner.

At his meeting with Legco Members, District Council chairmen and different sectors of the community on 2 December, Deputy Secretary General Qiao Xiaoyang of the NPCSC said he was aware that there were aspirations in the Hong Kong community both for the 2007/08 proposed package and for a timetable for universal suffrage; and that both aspirations should be respected and given recognition. Deputy Secretary General Qiao was also of the view that wide and thorough discussions on a roadmap and timetable for universal suffrage could be held, and a consensus forged on that basis.

If the proposed package is passed, the method for selecting the Chief Executive in 2007 will become more open and democratic. This will facilitate the early attainment of the ultimate aim of universal suffrage. In contrast, if the package is voted down, our task to take forward constitutional development in future will inevitably be adversely affected; and this will not be conducive to the early attainment of universal suffrage.

The SAR Government understands that some Members are concerned about the involvement of appointed District Council members in the electoral arrangements for the elections for the Chief Executive and for LegCo.

In this regard, the Chief Secretary has announced a couple of days ago the proposed adjustment to the number of appointed DC seats and our relevant considerations. If the motions for the 2007/08 proposed package is passed by Legco, we will reduce the maximum number of appointed DC seats by one-third, i.e. from the existing 102 to 68, when the new term of DCs commences on January 1, 2008. 

Thereafter, we will, in the light of the prevailing situation, which would mainly be the reaction of the community and the operation of the DCs following the reduction in the appointed seats, decide before the end of 2011 whether to abolish all the remaining 68 appointed DC seats in 2012, or whether to reduce them by half to 34 seats in 2012, and then abolish all appointed DC seats in 2016.

This adjustment arrangement aims to address, in a positive manner, the concerns on appointed District Council seats. We hope that this will enhance Members' support of the motion. This adjustment forms part of the overall package, but does not involve any amendment to the Motion that the Government moves today at Legco.

If the Motion is passed by Legco, the Government will later implement the changes to the District Council appointed seats through amendments to local legislation. In the event that the Motion is rejected by Legco, we will not proceed with the changes to the District Council appointed seats. This is a subject which different sectors of the community can continue to discuss, for example, in the context of the review of the District Councils next year.

This is the first time we propose to amend the method for selecting the Chief Executive in accordance with the provisions in Annex I to the Basic Law. We hope that our package will have the support of a two-thirds majority of all Legco Members, the consent of the Chief Executive and the approval of the NPCSC, so that we can take forward Hong Kong's democratic system. 

This will be a major milestone in Hong Kong's democratic development. During the past two year or so, the Government has spared no effort and has worked with the greatest sincerity in trying to build the broadest consensus in the community. 

If the package can come to fruition, we will not only take a substantive step forward in the democratic development of Hong Kong in 2007 and 2008, but more importantly, the mutual trust between the SAR and the Central Government on constitutional development will also be strengthened, thus creating more favourable conditions for achieving universal suffrage as soon as possible.

Whether Hong Kong is able to seize the opportunity before us will depend on Members' wisdom and courage. All Members here are elected representatives of our community. The aspirations in the community are crystal clear: they hope to have a timetable for universal suffrage as soon as possible, and also hope that the Government's package for 2007/08 will be passed. They do not want status quo.

I hope that when Members cast their votes, they will follow the community's aspirations, so that Hong Kong's constitutional development will embark on a wider road which will lead towards the early attainment of the ultimate aim of universal suffrage.

This is an excerpt of the speech by the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam, in moving the Motion on the Amendment to the Method for the Selection of the Chief Executive at the LegCo.