China's NPC starts discussing HK electoral reform

China's lawmakers discuss whether to revise election methods for Hong Kong's chief executive and legislature at the 10th meeting of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee in Beijing, China, Aug 25, 2014. Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the meeting. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

Hong Kong's electoral reform began its second stage Monday with the country's top legislature (the National People's Congress) discussing whether to revise election methods for Hong Kong's chief executive and legislature.

The first step to reform began when Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying submitted a report to the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee in July examining whether to revise election methods for Hong Kong SAR's chief executive in 2017 and its Legislative Council in 2016.

Lawmakers are now examining the report at the bi-monthly session of the NPC Standing Committee which lasts from Monday to Sunday.

The report is based on the results of a public consultation by the Hong Kong SAR government from Dec 4 last year to May 3.

The current chief executive was elected by an election committee in 2012. Hong Kong plans to introduce universal suffrage in 2017.