BEIJING, Aug. 31 -- Following is the full text of the Explanations on the Draft Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Issues Relating to the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by Universal Suffrage and on the Method for Forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the Year 2016:

Explanations on the Draft Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Issues Relating to the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by Universal Suffrage and on the Method for Forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the Year 2016

At the Tenth Session of the Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People's Congress on 27 August 2014

Li Fei

Deputy Secretary General of The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress,

At the request of the Chairmen's Council, I hereby provide Explanations on the Draft Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Issues Relating to the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by Universal Suffrage and on the Method for Forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the Year 2016.

In accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the "Hong Kong Basic Law") and the Interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of Article 7 of Annex I and Article III of Annex II to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Leung Chun-ying, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, submitted the Report on whether there is a need to amend the methods for selecting the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2017 and for forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2016 (hereinafter referred to as the "Report by the Chief Executive") to the NPC Standing Committee on 15 July 2014. On 18 August, the Chairmen's Council decided to include the consideration of the Report by the Chief Executive in the agenda of the Tenth Session of the Standing Committee of the Twelfth NPC, and entrusted the responsible officials of the relevant departments of the central authorities to listen to the views of the NPC deputies and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hong Kong members of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee under the NPC Standing Committee, and people from various sectors of the Hong Kong community. Opinions of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council were also solicited. On 26 August, the NPC Standing Committee held group discussions on the Report by the Chief Executive.

The members of the NPC Standing Committee pointed out that, as stipulated in Paragraph 2 of Article 45 of the Hong Kong Basic Law, "The method for selecting the Chief Executive shall be specified in the light of the actual situation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress. The ultimate aim is the selection of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures." The Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Issues Relating to the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and for Forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the Year 2012 and on Issues Relating to Universal Suffrage adopted on 29 December 2007 expressly states, "that the election of the fifth Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the year 2017 may be implemented by the method of universal suffrage; that after the Chief Executive is selected by universal suffrage, the election of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may be implemented by the method of electing all the members by universal suffrage." The Decision also reaffirms the relevant provisions of the Hong Kong Basic Law and its Interpretation that at an appropriate time prior to the selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by universal suffrage, the Chief Executive shall make a report to the NPC Standing Committee as regards the issue of amending the method for selecting the Chief Executive, and a determination thereon shall be made by the NPC Standing Committee. The members of the NPC Standing Committee believe that since the year 2017 is approaching, it is now necessary to make a decision on issues relating to the methods for selecting the Chief Executive in 2017 and for forming the Legislative Council in 2016. The Report submitted by the Chief Executive to the NPC Standing Committee is necessary and timely. The Report reflects in a comprehensive and objective manner the views and wishes of the Hong Kong community regarding the methods for selecting the Chief Executive by universal suffrage and for forming the Legislative Council in 2016, which include both consensus and differences. It is a positive, responsible and pragmatic report.