"While there is freedom of demonstration, speech and press ... the opposition parties should put the overall interests of Hong Kong and its people first," Tsang said.

"The central government will not change its basic principles because of protests by opposition parties."

The NPCSC yesterday finished its discussion on the report submitted by Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam- kuen.

In the report, the chief executive said a 2017 dateline for universal suffrage would have a better chance of being accepted by the people and the Hong Kong legislature.

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Tsang Hin-chi and other local NPC deputies at the meeting refused to disclose details of what was discussed before a vote on the resolution is taken at 9am on Saturday.

Local NPC deputy, Philip Wong Yu-hong, said the NPC's decision should be acceptable to the majority of the Hong Kong people.

"The opposition parties voted down a previous reform proposal which was presented in 2005. This frustrated the Basic Law's call for a gradual and orderly progress [towards universal suffrage]. They should rethink their position if they want to follow the Basic Law, and I believe they will ultimately support the NPC decision," Wong said.

Local NPC deputy Maria Tam Wai- chu said the discussion was positive and many issues were discussed which had not been raised before.

In Hong Kong, pan-democrats yesterday continued their hunger strike outside the Legislative Council building.

Civic Party lawmaker Ronny Tong Ka-wah said the protest is only one way to be heard. "Moderate democrats are not getting anywhere, especially on this issue of political reform. Our voices are simply not being heard," he said.

"If things are not working in the legislature or working out officially, then people will return underground and the issue will go back to the streets."

Meanwhile, controversial lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung and three fellow members of the League of Social Democrats were stopped at the mainland side of the Lo Wu crossing yesterday while on their way to Beijing via Shenzhen to hand in a petition calling for dual universal suffrage in 2012.

Only one member, Law Jou, who held a valid return permit, was allowed entry. Law arrived in Beijing later in the day and is expected to hand in the petition this morning.

Liberal Party chairman James Tien Pei-chun has described the call by pan- democrats for the public to boycott schools and trading as "inappropriate" and "irresponsible," adding they were not helpful to the current discussions.

A Chinese University of Hong Kong poll found 58.7 percent of 822 respondents supported universal suffrage for the election of the chief executive no later than 2017.

The survey, conducted between December 19 and 21, found 31.4 percent supported dual universal suffrage for the chief executive and the Legislative Council by 2012, while 51.3 percent supported a consensus-based decision.

The remaining 12.3 percent believed the central government should make the decision.