HK to achieve universal suffrage: chief executive

HONG KONG, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung said Wednesday in his policy address that the government will promote and achieve the ultimate aim of universal suffrage in accordance with the provisions of the Hong Kong Basic Law and the relevant decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

When talking about the constitutional development, Leung said the government will launch a comprehensive consultation on the election methods of the chief executive in 2017 and the legislative council in 2016 and initiate the constitutional procedures at an appropriate juncture.

"We hope that the various sectors of the community and different political parties in the legislative council will act in the overall and long-term interests of Hong Kong, respect different views and engage in rational and pragmatic discussions in order to reach a consensus on the way forward for the democratic development of Hong Kong," he said.

The policy address is an annual address by the chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Leung was elected as the third chief executive of Hong Kong in March 2012 and came into office in July the same year. His full term will be five years.