Former party chairman Tsang Yok-sing said the party had to work out a plan for constitutional development that provided a clear path to full democracy.

His remarks come amid calls from core party members for a more proactive approach to fighting for universal suffrage, rather than adhering to a vague pledge to strive to develop the city's political system at a steady pace in the hope of early attainment of the goal.

Mr Tsang, who is also an executive councillor, said the party had adopted the approach of setting out the 'road map' for achieving democracy before announcing a timetable for its attainment.

'We have to discuss the models for electing the chief executive and the Legislative Council by universal suffrage, including what and how many intermediate steps need to taken before the realisation of the ultimate goal,' he said.

For instance, the composition and size of the nominating committee that would name candidates for the chief executive when the leader was elected by universal suffrage needed to be set out, Mr Tsang said.

He also said the DAB was discussing whether geographical constituencies were the only method for returning lawmakers when the full legislature was elected by universal suffrage.

'If the functional constituencies are to be retained, can they be democratised by widening their franchise?' he asked, adding that some proposed allowing members of functional constituencies to nominate candidates for election by universal suffrage.

While emphasising that his party had not reached any conclusion, Mr Tsang said the DAB could not avoid the issue of a timetable for full democracy once a road map was worked out. 'I believe that we have to come up with a timetable before next year's district council elections,' he said.

Felix Fong Wo, a member of the party's standing committee, agreed that objective milestones, such as cutting the number of functional constituencies or widening the franchise of these trade-based elections, should be spelled out.

The DAB quietly dropped its pledge to fight for universal suffrage in 2007 from its platform last year and the new version does not give a definite date for the attainment of full democracy.

Its original platform called for a review of the political system before 2007, after which the chief executive and all legislators should be returned by universal suffrage.

The latest version of the party's platform says it strives for the early attainment of full democracy, without giving a timetable. In its platform for the 2004 Legislative Council election, the DAB pledged to strive to create conditions for the introduction of universal suffrage in 2012.