The central government, the chief executive and the Legislative Council must reach a consensus before the political reform process can kick-start in Hong Kong, Chief Secretary Donald Tsang said Tuesday.

Tsang, who heads the Task Force on Constitutional Development, said this at a press conference following a meeting in Shenzhen Tuesday morning with representatives of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC).

They included NPCSC Deputy Secretary General Qiao Xiaoyang, its Legislative Affairs Commission Vice-Chairman Li Fei, and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office Deputy Director Xu Ze.

"Any proposed changes to the methods for selecting the chief executive and the Legislative Council must have a broad consensus," Tsang said. They would need the endorsement of two-thirds of the Legislative Council members and the chief executive's consent. Then they would be forwarded to the NPCSC for approval or for the record, the task force concluded in its first report.

At the press conference, Tsang noted that since its establishment on January 7, the task force had met with about 82 organizations and individuals and received more than 600 letters, faxes and e-mails from the public on constitutional development.

These were analyzed in an objective and professional manner, focusing more on the quality of the arguments rather than the number of views received.

He stressed that the SAR government has fully and honestly conveyed the views of the public to the NPCSC representatives.

"They listened very attentively to the views...they considered that the views we expressed would help the NPCSC understand the views of the Hong Kong community," he said.

"The views are helpful to the NPCSC's interpretation of the Basic Law annexes," he quoted Qiao as saying.

Tsang added that the NPCSC representatives understand the concerns of some people in Hong Kong on the plans of the standing committee to interpret the Basic Law annexes. When asked whether he would help three "pro-democracy" legislators meet with the NPCSC in Beijing, Tsang said he had forwarded a letter from Democratic Party Chairman Yeung Sum to Qiao.

Tsang said Qiao had told him it would be best for the Hong Kong lawmakers to put their views in writing.

The task force Tuesday released its first report on public views of the legislative process related to constitutional development. It set out the government's five conclusions on the legislative process.

First, any changes to the methods for selecting the chief executive and forming the LegCo should first be amended in accordance with the provisions stated in relevant annexes to the Basic Law. The local electoral laws should thereafter be amended to prescribe the detailed arrangement.

Second, as long as the relevant amendments are not inconsistent with the provisions in the main text of the Basic Law, the amendment procedures in Article 159 need not be invoked.

Third, as for the initiation of amendments to the electoral system of chief executive and LegCo, the report said it could only be introduced to the LegCo by the SAR government.

Fourth, if there is no need to make amendments or if a consensus on amendment options cannot be reached among legislators, the chief executive and the central authorities, the method for forming the third term LegCo as stipulated in annex II should also apply to the formation of the fourth and subsequent terms of the LegCo.

Last, on how the phrase "subsequent to the year 2007" should be understood, the report reiterates the task force's view: If there is a need, amendments to the method for selecting the third term chief executive in 2007 may be considered.

(China Daily HK Edition March 31, 2004)