HK elects 11th NPC deputies

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-04-2008 08:25

The first session for electing deputies of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to the 11th National People's Congress has been held in Hong Kong. A 15-member presidium has been elected, and Hong Kong's Chief Executive Donald Tsang has been chosen as its executive chairman.

The first session for electing deputies of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to the 11th National People''s Congress has been held in Hong Kong.

The conference was chaired by Sheng Huaren, Secretary General of the Standing Committee of the NPC. 1034 members attended the first session. On behalf of the top legislator Wu Bangguo, Sheng expressed appreciation for the members' participation.

Sheng said since Hong Kong's return to the motherland in 1997, residents are the master of the special administrative region. Sheng said they have the right to be involved in the management of the special region and make possible changes in selecting Hong Kong SAR deputies. He said it fully takes into consideration the characteristics of Hong Kong under the "one country, two systems" policy.

Sheng stressed the Hong Kong NPC deputy must be a Chinese citizen of not less than 18 years of age and a resident of the region.

He said during the elections process, everyone should take a pragmatic attitude, seek common ground and put aside differences.

Donald Tsang, the newly elected executive chairman, held the presidium's first meeting.

The presidium decided the nomination period of HKSAR deputies to the 11th NPC will be from January 5th to 16th. The preliminary election of local deputies will be held on January 25th.

And a total of 36 people representing Hong Kong will attend the congress in March.

Editor:Zhang Ning