HONG KONG, Oct. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang reiterated on Wednesday that Hong Kong's constitutional development should be taken forward in a gradual and orderly manner according to the Basic Law.

    He made the remarks while delivering his first Policy Address at the Legislative Council on Wednesday.

    Tsang said for more than a year, the Constitutional DevelopmentTask Force has been actively seeking the views of different sectors and maintaining communication with the relevant departments of the central authorities on how to amend the methodsfor selecting the Chief Executive in 2007 and for forming the Legislative Council in 2008.

    He said the Task Force's Fifth Report, to be published later this year, will contain a package of proposals on how to amend thetwo methods. The proposals must comply with the Basic Law and the Interpretation and Decision made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in April 2004.

    He said task force will give the public more say and more channels to participate in the Chief Executive and Legislative Council elections, in order to achieve enhanced representativeness of the two elections and abide by the principle of gradual and orderly progress towards the ultimate goal of universal suffrage in light Hong Kong's real situation.

    He firmly believes that the proposed methods will mark a key milestone in the development of democracy in Hong Kong. Members ofthis Council will, in debating the proposed methods, strive to seek common ground while accommodating differences and reach a consensus, so that Hong Kong's constitutional development can moveforward.

    The chief executive stressed that "while moving forward steadily and purposefully with constitutional development, we mustcontinue to improve on our administrative system." The Accountability System for Principal Officials has been in place for more than three years. It has proved to be more responsive to public needs and aspirations as well as a necessary reform in the path of constitutional development towards universal suffrage in Hong Kong.

    "Generally, the community has accepted the Accountability System and looks forward to further consolidation and improvement.The most pressing need at the moment is to strengthen support for the Principal Officials to undertake growing political work related to formulation and implementation of policies, actively reach out to various social sectors and seek wider and more solid public support for the government."

    Tsang said the government will consider creating within our executive agencies a small number of positions dedicated to political affairs. Their main duty will be to support the Chief Executive and the Principal Officials in their political work. Enditem