Premier Wen Jiabao Thursday called on people in Hong Kong to have faith in the central government, saying that decisions made by the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) on political development would safeguard Hong Kong's best interests.

Speaking at the end of his official visit to Ireland, Wen said Hong Kong people should try to understand the NPCSC move.

He said the decision would ensure that Hong Kong's political system advanced in a gradual, orderly and healthy manner. Meanwhile, he said, Hong Kong people should grasp the opportunity to develop the economy and improve their livelihoods.

The NPCSC decision announced on April 26 ruled out universal suffrage for the election of the chief executive in 2007 and the Legislative Council (LegCo) in 2008. But it agreed that specific methods of electing the chief executive in 2007 and LegCo in 2008 could be "appropriately" amended, subject to the principle of "gradual and orderly progress".

In light of the NPCSC rulings, the Task Force on Constitutional Development of the SAR government published its third report earlier this week, setting the scope of changes that could be made to the methods of electing the chief executive and LegCo.

The report has left open possibilities to enlarge the electoral base for the Election Committee for the chief executive election and to increase the number of LegCo seats.

In Hong Kong Thursday, Liberal Party Chairman James Tien Pei-chun called for setting a target date for the introduction of universal suffrage in the election of the chief executive, be it in 2012 or 2017.

Echoing the concern of his constituents in the commercial sector that Hong Kong is not yet ready for universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008, Tien believed that with a target date, it would help foster an environment under which political development could take its step forward steadily in a gradual and orderly pace.

Tien said party leaders would meet members next week to discuss the third report.

It is expected that Liberal Party leaders would recommend to members that the 800-member Election Committee for the election of the chief executive in 2007 be expanded to 1,200-1,600 members and the Election Committee electorate, now comprising 163,500 voters, be expanded.

But the party leadership has made known they are opposed to increasing the Election Committee electorate to "several million" voters.

(China Daily HK Edition May 14, 2004)