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HONG KONG, Oct 19 (AFP): Hong Kong unveiled modest measures to reform the southern Chinese territory's electoral system Wednesday, but stopped short of setting a timetable for full democracy.
In the latest of a series of reports on amending the electoral code, deputy leader Rafael Hui spelt out plans to broaden a committee which selects the city's political leader and to enlarge the legislature.
Hui told legislators that the moves go some way to achieving the constitution's requirement that citizens of the former British colony be empowered to elect their political leaders.
"I believe the package of proposals... has struck the right balance amidst the various views submitted by different sectors of the community and has responded to the aspirations of the community on constitutional development," he told legislators.
By the next leadership election in 2007, the 800-member Beijing-backed committee of elites tasked with selecting the political leader will be doubled to 1,600, Hui said.
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