Chinese lawmakers stress Basic Law in HK electoral reform

The electoral reforms set for 2017 in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) must adhere to Basic Law and regional realities, legislators said Tuesday.

Hong Kong's universal suffrage must be promoted prudently and steadily as it will be a historic piece of Hong Kong's democracy and a significant change in its political system.

It involves national sovereignty, security and development, legislators said during the bi-monthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, currently underway in Beijing.

The congress started examining a report from HKSAR Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on Monday, discussing whether to revise election methods for the region's chief executive in 2017 and its Legislative Council in 2016.

They hailed Leung's report as positive, responsible and pragmatic.

The current chief executive was elected by a committee in 2012. Hong Kong plans to introduce universal suffrage, the right for citizens to vote,during the next election in 2017.

According to the report, disputes remain in Hong Kong on core questions including how the nomination committee will be formed and other procedures for deciding candidates.

Some proposals were obvious violations of Basic Law, lawmakers said.

Top legislature should exercise power granted by the Constitution and the Basic Law of Hong Kong to make decisions on these core questions in order to promote consensus among Hong Kong residents and ensure smooth implementation of the new electoral process in 2017.