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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, signed instruments of consent, in both Chinese and English, at Government House today (June 29) to give consent to the draft amendments to Annexes I and II to the Basic Law concerning the methods for the selection of the Chief Executive and for the formation of the Legislative Council.
The Chief Executive's consent draws Hong Kong closer to the completion of the five-step mechanism to amend the electoral methods for the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council in accordance with the Basic Law and the Interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) of April 2004, following the endorsement by the Legislative Council of the constitutional reform package last week.
The Chief Executive will report the relevant draft amendments to the NPCSC for approval or for the record.
"In a historic moment last week, the Legislative Council passed by a two-thirds majority the motions put forth by the HKSAR Government concerning the draft amendments to the methods for the selection of the Chief Executive and for the formation of the Legislative Council in 2012. That is a milestone in Hong Kong's democratic development. The formal consent I gave to the draft amendments today reflects the aspirations of Hong Kong people to roll forward our constitutional development towards universal suffrage," said Mr Tsang.
"Though the ceremony today is simple, it represents the long-term efforts of many in achieving greater democracy in Hong Kong."
Ends/Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:27
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