HK Govt rules out time-frame for universal suffrage

Tung made the remarks on Friday during a meeting with a delegation from the British House of Commons foreign affairs committee led by its chairman Donald Anderson in Hong Kong.

In response to a reference made by the delegation to an alleged quote from previous visitors on his views on the length of the evolutionary process to universal suffrage, Tung said he quot;did not, and indeed could not, specify any time-frame at this early stage,quot; reports Xinhua news agency.

quot;The basic law provides that further democratic evolution after 2007 will depend on the wishes of the Hong Kong people. Such evolution must be in the best interests of the Hong Kong people and mustpreserve the factors contributing to our continued success,quot; Tung said, adding while universal suffrage should quot;remain our ultimate objective, we should not lose sight of other important elements of democracyquot;.

quot;Democracy also includes an accountable government, the rule of law, the right to form political parties, and the freedom of speech. We are very conscious of the need to uphold all these and are fully committed to doing so,quot; he said.