The 1984 Sino-UK Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong made no mention of universal suffrage. The United Kingdom (UK) had never tried to implement universal suffrage during its 143 years (1841-1984) of colonial rule and understandably did not press China to give universal suffrage to Hong Kong at that time.

But China nevertheless incorporated the "ultimate aim" of universal suffrage into the Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini-constitution, which clearly provided "double universal suffrage" for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) with no definite timetable for the selection of the Chief Executive (Article 45), and for the election of all the members of the Legislative Council (Article 68), and qualified that it can only be achieved "in the light of the actual situation in the HKSAR and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress".

The question of constitutional development did not arise in the first 10 years of the HKSAR's existence (1997-2007) as the selection method of the first HKSAR government (1997-2002) was specified in separate National People's Congress (NPC) legislation in 1990, and the selection method of the second HKSAR government (2002-2007) was also clearly stipulated by the Basic Law. According to the Basic Law, the selection method of its third government in 2007 and thereafter, can be adjusted by following certain protocol and legal procedures.

Since 2003, the Hong Kong community has held extensive debates and many in-depth discussions on constitutional reform. These discourses focused mainly on when and how the Chief Executive and members of the Legislative Council should be elected by universal suffrage. The election framework as well as the timetable of implementation were the topics of heated dispute. Some social groups advocated introduction of universal suffrage as early as 2007 or 2012, while others argued that a gradual and steady approach should be adopted.

On December 29, 2007, the Standing Committee of the 10th NPC made a landmark decision about Hong Kong's constitutional development after serious consideration of the debates, arguments and sentiments in Hong Kong. It concluded that appropriate amendments may be made to the methods used in 2012 for both elections; that the election of the fifth Chief Executive in the year 2017 may be implemented through universal suffrage; that after the Chief Executive is selected by universal suffrage, all members of the Legislative Council also may be elected by universal suffrage.

Such an important decision with far-reaching implications may have derived from Hong Kong's internal demand that Hong Kong needs democracy to maintain its stability and prosperity though this had not been done by the UK. History has shown that modernization usually goes hand in hand with democracy.

Furthermore, China itself has never denied the value of democracy. Deng Xiaoping repeatedly emphasized that without democracy, there can be no socialism; the more socialism develops, the more democracy develops. President Hu Jintao also pointed out on many occasions that without democracy, there can be no modernization.

One should not doubt China's seriousness and earnestness about honoring the 2017 timetable. Rather, everyone in Hong Kong should be prepared for the even hotter debate and more pointed arguments in the next eight years as to amending the election methods leading to the ultimate aim of universal suffrage, according to the principle of gradual and orderly progression with consideration of the actual situation of the HKSAR.

We should brace ourselves in this wind of change in the political reform, as every one of us in Hong Kong will be substantially affected by the new political system and we should fully understand its implications and be prepared for the impact on our work and daily lives.

Nevertheless, I am confident that with the joint efforts of the Hong Kong government and its people, the democratic system will make continuous progress.

The author is former secretary for home affairs of the SAR government.

(HK Edition 11/25/2009 page1)