Any changes to the method to select Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)'s chief executive and Legislative Council should take into account the current situation in the special administrative region, representatives from Hong Kong told a National People's Congress senior official.

Qiao Xiaoyang, deputy secretary general of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) -- the country's supreme legislature, held meetings in Shenzhen Thursday and on Wednesday, to solicit views from Hong Kong representatives from various walks of life on Hong Kong's constitutional development.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa submitted a report to the NPC Standing Committee earlier this month on how to select a chief executive in 2007 and form the Legislative Council in 2008.

Tung's report will be deliberated by the NPC Standing Committee on April 25 and 26 during regular session in Beijing. The decision was made by the NPC Standing Committee's meeting of chairman and vice-chairmen.

Entrusted by that meeting, Qiao went to Shenzhen and met with the NPC deputies and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee members in Hong Kong, HK members of the Basic Law Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) under the NPC Standing Committee, and representatives from the areas of industry, commerce, finance, social service, religion, to listened to their views on Tung Chee-hwa's report.

Qiao also exchanged views with the HKSAR's Constitutional Development Task Force on Tung's report.

During the meetings, Hong Kong representatives from various walks of life expressed their views on the methods for the selection of the chief executive in 2007 and the formation of the Legislative Council in 2008.

Many HK representatives believe needed amendments to the methods for selecting the chief executive and forming the Legislative Council must be made gradually, orderly and according to the practical situation in Hong Kong.

They said amendments should also be conducive to balanced representation of different social strata and different walks of life, the sound operation of the executive-led governance system, and to the maintenance of the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

(Xinhua News Agency April 23, 2004)