BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, China's top legislature, deliberated Monday a report concerning methods for the selection of Macao's chief executive and formation of the region's legislative council.
The report on whether it is necessary to amend the methods for forming the Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR in 2013 and measures for selecting Macao SAR chief executive in 2014 was submitted by Macao SAR chief executive.
A statement released after Monday's bimonthly session of the NPC Standing Committee, said the interpretation of articles of the Macao SAR Basic Law, adopted by China's top legislature on Dec. 31, stated that amendments on selecting chief executives and forming the legislative council should be decided by the NPC Standing Committee in accordance with Macao's real situation, upon the report submitted by the SAR's chief executive.
The report, which reflects the majority opinion of the people of Macao, proposes maintaining the current methods for selecting chief executives by an electoral committee, as well as upholding the current system of forming Macao's legislative council with members directly and indirectly elected by the public and commissioned councilors.
The development of Macao's political system should be made within the framework of the Macao SAR Basic Law and in a manner that helps to maintain the SAR's long-term stability, Li Fei, deputy director of the Commission for Legislative Affairs of the NPC Standing Committee, has said.
Macao returned to China on Dec. 20, 1999.