Lawful fun: Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam (right) attends a carnival to promote the Basic Law.

Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam said today media reports about having the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress interpret the definition of universal suffrage are purely speculative.

He was speaking to the press after the opening ceremony of a carnival to promote the Basic Law.

He emphasised the committee made its decision in 2007 regarding the universal suffrage timetable and stated all registered voters of Hong Kong will vote for the Chief Executive in 2017, in the one person, one vote format.

"As for the Legislative Council universal suffrage implementation in 2020, back in 2007, both the SAR Government and Central Government officials have already made it clear universal suffrage implementation for the legislature would need to comply with the principles of universality and equality," he said.

When asked if the functional constituencies comply with the principles of universal suffrage, he said the Government will maintain the momentum of injecting more democratic elements into the electoral systems and continue to make progress in 2012 and 2016, and pave the way for implementing universal suffrage in 2017 and 2020.

He said it is important for the Hong Kong community to continue to discuss the arrangements for electing the Legislative Councillors for 2012, 2016 and 2020, and continue to make progress and comply with the principles of universality and equality by 2020.