The Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau says it is entirely proper to invite public views on the number of Chief Executive candidates to be put forth to stand for universal suffrage election.

In response to lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki's Letter to Hong Kong radio broadcast today, the bureau said it is important that Hong Kong people know how many candidates will be standing in the election, so that they will have an idea of the scope and scale of the poll.

After people have reached consensus on this issue, detailed procedures can be discussed further and agreed upon, the bureau added.

Regarding the requirement of "nomination by the nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures", the bureau said the Green Paper on Constitutional Development has already set out all the relevant views received, and people should deal with the issue in accordance with the Basic Law.

Reiterating that the Government has not taken any view on the issue of universal suffrage, the bureau said it will take forward discussions within the community in the hope that a mainstream view could be formed.