HONG KONG, Oct. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang pledged here Wednesday to secure a "people-based" government which pursues excellent governance, a harmonious community and widespread economic growth.

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

    Tsang said that since the last Policy Address, Hong Kong has undergone significant changes. It is moving forward with new vigor, confidence and ambition to embrace the future, he added.

    He noted that pursuing excellent governance is the most pressing public demand in Hong Kong at the moment.

    To achieve this target, he will increase the membership of boththe Executive Council and reorganize the Chief Executive Office.

    He will also rejuvenate the membership of advisory boards and statutory bodies to harvest the experience of leaders in their fields and provide them with an opportunity to play a greater rolein the different levels of leadership.

    Tsang will also substantially expand the membership of the Commission on Strategic Development to around 100 by inviting talents from different fields. It will provide a platform for all sectors of the community to explore with the government major issues pertaining to Hong Kong's long-term development.

    Since a good relationship between the central authorities and the SAR is the cornerstone for the successful implementation of "one country, two systems", the SAR government must engage in moredialogue with the central authorities and other mainland authorities at all levels, Tsang said.

    In addition to the existing office of the HKSAR government in Beijing and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong, the SAR government will discuss with the central authorities setting up offices in Shanghai and Chengdu, Tsang said.

    He also has decided to expand the powers and functions of the Constitutional Affairs Bureau by establishing a Mainland Affairs Liaison Office within it in order to better cooperate with Guangdong, the Pan-Pearl River Delta (Pan-PRD) and many other areas in the mainland.

    Tsang stressed that Hong Kong's constitutional development should be taken forward in a gradual and orderly manner according to the Basic Law.

    He said the Constitutional Development Task Force's Fifth Report, to be published later this year, will contain a package of proposals on how to amend the methods for selecting the Chief Executive in 2007 and for forming the Legislative Council in 2008.

    He firmly believes that the proposed methods will mark a key milestone in the development of democracy in Hong Kong.