Report hailed as a big step forward in decade-long political debate

Pro-government figures praised the chief executive's report to the central government as a big step forward in the decade-long debate on democratisation in Hong Kong.

Lau Nai-keung, a member of the Basic Law Committee under the NPC Standing Committee, said: 'It is the first time since the 1980s that the Hong Kong government has agreed that there is a timetable for full democracy deemed desirable or acceptable to the community.'

He called on the pan-democratic camp to compromise with the government and forge a consensus on early introduction of universal suffrage. 'I think the democrats, who vetoed in 2005 the proposals for the 2007-08 elections, will face greater public pressure to compromise this time.'

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, chairwoman of the Savantas Policy Institute, also lauded the chief executive for recognising the public's demand. She said universal suffrage should be introduced in 2012, or no later than 2017 if the former were not achieved.

Liberal Party chairman James Tien Pei-chun said the report did not rule out the possibility of universal suffrage in 2012 but agreed that a schedule 'no later than 2017' would stand a better chance of being accepted.

Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong chairman Tam Yiu-chung praised the report as comprehensive and objective.