CCTV9英语新闻：HK to start 2nd consultation on constitutional reform（在线收听）

Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung announced Tuesday that the second round of public consultation on constitutional reform will start on Jan. 7.

Speaking before the Executive Council meeting in the morning, Leung called on people to express their views on constitutional development but stay within the framework set out in the Basic Law and the relevant decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

The Hong Kong government will use different ways to collect people's opinions during the consultation, he said, hoping that a consensus could be reached in a legal, rational and pragmatic manner.

Leung noted that the first round of consultation had already laid out the foundations for the second phase which should be more focused and completed in a shorter time.

The chief executive made it clear that Hong Kong is a law- abiding city that will not tolerate illegal acts or attempts to pressure the Hong Kong government or the central government to accept any proposal that is not in accordance with the Basic Law.

Later on the day, Hong Kong's Legislative Council has announced it's going to reopen the demonstration site around its complex.

The reopening of the protest areas around the LegCo building will come with certain restrictions.

Jasper Tsang is the president of the Hong Kong Legislative Council.

"The demonstration area will be open from 07:00 in the morning to 11:00 in the evening every day. But nobody is allowed in the zone from 11:00 in the evening to 7:00 the next morning."

The new rules also ban fires, camping equipment and paint in the demonstration area.

Restrictions are also being imposed on the use of loudspeakers in the zone.

The protest zone around Hong Kong's LegCo building has been closed since demonstrators were removed from the site in mid-December after weeks-long protests there.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government is due to announce its latest plans for consultations on political reforms on Wednesday.

While all this takes place, the Central government in Beijing has issued a new statement, calling for any protests in Hong Kong to follow the rule of order.