HONG KONG, July 15 -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) initiated a constitutional development on Tuesday when Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam reported to the Legislative Council (LegCo) the result of the five-month public consultation on chief executive election and the LegCo formation, while Chief Executive C Y Leung submitted a report to China's top legislature on whether there is a need to amend the two electoral methods.

The following are some key facts about the constitutional development in Hong Kong:

-- Constitutional Basis

The HKSAR's constitutional document, the Basic Law, and the relevant Interpretation and Decisions of the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) are the constitutional basis of the constitutional development of the HKSAR. Since China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, Hong Kong has been making progress in democratic development on the above basis.

The implementation of universal suffrage involves the relationship between the central government and the HKSAR and is an important step in the development of Hong Kong's political structure. The Basic Law states the ultimate aim of selecting the chief executive and all members of the LegCo by way of universal suffrage.

The decision of the NPCSC in 2007 has made clear the timetable for attaining universal suffrage: the chief executive may be elected by way of universal suffrage in 2017 and thereafter all members of the LegCo may be elected by way of universal suffrage.

-- Five-Step Process of Constitutional Development

In accordance with the Basic Law and the NPCSC Interpretation in 2004, the procedures for amending the methods for chief executive election and for the LegCo formation, which is also known as Five-Step Process of Constitutional Development, are as follows:

The chief executive to make a report to the NPCSC as to whether there is a need to amend the two electoral methods; a determination to be made by the NPCSC as to whether the electoral methods need to be amended; the resolutions on the amendments to be introduced by the HKSAR government to the LegCo, and be endorsed by a two-thirds majority of all the members of the LegCo; consent to be given by the chief executive to the motions endorsed by the LegCo; and the relevant bill to be reported by the chief executive to the NPCSC for approval or for the record.

-- Preparations for the First Step

On Oct. 17, 2013, Hong Kong's Chief Executive C Y Leung announced the immediate establishment of the Task Force on Constitutional Development headed by the chief secretary for administration to handle the public consultation on the methods for selecting the Chief Executive and for forming the Legislative Council.

On Dec. 4, 2013, the HKSAR government published the Consultation Document on the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive in 2017 and for Forming the Legislative Council in 2016 to formally commence a five-month public consultation to collect views from various sectors of the community on major issues and related questions on the two electoral methods.

The Consultation Document sets out the background and principles of constitutional development in Hong Kong, as well as certain key issues relating to the method of selection and formation under the framework of the Basic Law and the relevant Interpretation and Decisions of the NPCSC to consult the public.