HONG KONG: Chief Executive Donald Tsang urged the public to be accommodating in its wish for political reform.

The government will consult the public on political reform in the last quarter, Tsang said. And he pledged the government will not advance the same reform package that was rejected in 2005.

Tsang told legislators yesterday he understood the demands of community members who took part in the July 1 rally.

The National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) has stipulated that the Chief Executive election in 2017 and lawmakers' election in 2020 may be by universal suffrage.

Tsang said introducing universal suffrage in 2012 would violate the decree of the NPCSC.

"The demand for universal suffrage in 2012 is rejected by the NPCSC. I believe I have made that very clear. We should not stick to argue that. Arguing that is useless," he said.

The community should focus on enhancing the democratic elements for the chief executive election in 2012, awaiting the transition to universal suffrage in 2017, he said.

Tsang said reaching consensus in the community and approval of two-thirds of legislators to change political arrangements for 2012 would be difficult.

Tsang dismissed claims by some legislators that universal suffrage will not be introduced in the foreseeable future.

"We already have a timetable now. This can never be distorted. Universal suffrage will be introduced in 2017. Why do you say that it will not happen in the foreseeable future?" Tsang said. "Generation by generation, we have been putting effort to it. This generation will get it."

Meanwhile, Tsang also said the government has spent HK$87 billion for relief measures to weather the financial crisis. The figure represents 5.2 percent of the city's gross domestic product. He said HK$100 billion has been spent to provide loan guarantees to small and medium enterprises.

He said the unemployment problem will be eased when work begins on key infrastructure projects.

(HK Edition 07/08/2009 page1)