The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government determined to attain ultimate aim of universal suffrage, said a government spokesman on Saturday.

In response to the march held earlier Saturday, the government spokesman said "although the constitutional reform package, which represented a step forward toward universal suffrage, put forth by the government last year was not passed by the Legislative Council, we remain fully committed and determined to promoting democratic development in accordance with the Basic Law, and attaining the ultimate aim of universal suffrage in the light of the actual situation in Hong Kong."

He said this is the Basic Law's requirement. It also represents the common aspiration, which is shared by the Central Authorities, the HKSAR government and the public.

He added "the government has been exploring actively possible models for implementing universal suffrage for selecting the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council, and plans to draw conclusions early next year."

The spokesman said the government will make public the report, reflect the conclusions to the Central Authorities, and then commence the next stage of work."

Thousands of Hong Kong citizens took to streets in Hong Kong Island Saturday afternoon. Organizers said the march was aimed at "striving for universal suffrage." However, the demands made by the marchers were diversified, judging from the slogans on the banners and placards they were carrying.

Also on Saturday, in the morning, some 50,000 Hong Kong citizens participated in a parade to mark the 9th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland.

The theme of the parade was "harmony, solidarity and development," expressing citizens' hope for economic development, social harmony and solidarity.

Most Hong Kong citizens spent Saturday as their holiday, either by shopping in the downtown shops, having dinners at restaurants or going to Ocean Park and some other entertaining venues. The shopping malls as Times Square, Sogo Department Store as well as Ocean Park were crowded with customers and passengers on Saturday.

Source: Xinhua