SHENZHEN, Aug. 21 -- Senior legislature official Li Fei has stressed patriotism, adherence to law and local prosperity as musts in practicing universal suffrage in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) by 2017.

Li, deputy secretary-general of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, made the remarks at a symposium on Hong Kong's universal suffrage on Thursday.

Some 220 political advisors and lawmakers from the mainland and Hong Kong attended the meeting. Many expressed their hope that the NPC Standing Committee can map out the necessary rules to put HKSAR universal suffrage on the right track so that the region can focus on the economy and people's livelihoods.

While promising to pass these opinions to the top legislature, Li, also director of the Standing Committee's HKSAR Basic Law Committee, reiterated the principles that universal suffrage must be in line with the Basic Law and the decisions made by the top legislature while the chief executive post must be filled by someone who loves both Hong Kong and the country as a whole.

The top legislature plans to deliberate next week on a report from HKSAR Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on whether to revise election methods for the region's chief executive in 2017 and its Legislative Council in 2016.

The current chief executive was elected by an election committee in 2012. Hong Kong plans to introduce universal suffrage in the election in 2017.

Stressing unity and cooperation, Li said universal suffrage must be implemented with a focus on the responsibility to ensure Hong Kong's stability and prosperity as well as the obligations to abide by and safeguard the Basic Law.

"The central government holds the unwavering standpoint to fulfil universal suffrage in the region by 2017, and the SAR government has determination and confidence in successfully realizing this. With the responsibility and obligations shouldered by Hong Kong citizens, I believe all obstacles can be overcome," Li said.