HONG KONG, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The chief executive of semi-autonomous Hong Kong said China declared the region may directly elect its leaders and legislators within the next decade.
Hong Kong's chief executive Donald Tsang said China made a "most important step" in the region's political future by allowing its people to choose their leader by 2017 and legislators by 2020, the BBC reported Saturday.
"We are grateful and we welcome Beijing's decision -- it sets a clear timetable for electing the chief executive and legislators," Tsang said.
The Chinese parliament in its ruling Saturday said direct elections may lead to universal suffrage for the Legislative Council election in 2020.
The parliament stopped short full democracy for the chief executive elections saying "appropriate revisions" may be implemented. An 800-member committee currently chooses Hong Kong's leader and elections determine half of the 60-seat Legislative Council.
Hong Kong is governed under a "one country, two systems" principle that grants some autonomy to the former British colony to preserve economic and social systems.
