by 2017, territory's chief says HONG KONG, Dec 29, SPA -- Beijing will allow Hong Kong to directlyelect its leader by 2017 and all its lawmakers by 2020,AP QUOTED China's government and the territory's top governmentofficial as saying Saturday. But pro-democracy parties said they were disappointed thatHong Kong's people would not be able to do so sooner. Hong Kong's Chief Executive Donald Tsang said the decisionwas a «most important step» in the former Britishcolony's political future. Hong Kong currently elects only half its lawmakers. Theleader, or chief executive, is chosen by a pro-Beijingcommittee. The government in Beijing had been debating Hong Kong'spolitical future. The official Xinhua News Agency saidSaturday that China would allow direct elections for thechief executive in 2017, with the changes made graduallystarting in 2012, the date of the next leadership race. Direct elections for all lawmakers could follow in 2020 atthe earliest, Tsang said in announcing Beijing's ruling. A member of the Standing Committee of the People'sNational Congress _ the lawmaking arm of the Chinesegovernment _ was expected to arrive in Hong Kong withinhours to explain the ruling. When Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 it wasgranted wide-ranging autonomy and a promise that eventuallyit could directly elect all of its legislators, as well asits leader. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/512993