DHAKA: Hong Kong’s leader formally proposed electoral reforms to Beijing on Tuesday, although he stopped short of recommending specific changes ahead of an election in the Asian financial centre in 2017 for its next chief executive.

Leung Chun-ying’s report to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress – China’s parliament – comes amid increasing tension between Hong Kong’s pro-democracy activists and Beijing over the pace of political reform in the former British territory, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Pro-democracy activists say Beijing is failing to make good on its promise of universal suffrage, while Beijing feels that Hong Kong is pushing too far, reports The Straits Times.

Leung’s report, however, offered no concrete proposal on possible reform.

BDST: 1305 HRS, JUL 15, 2014