BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang on Friday called for democratic and economic development in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) to safeguard the region's social harmony and stability.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), made the remarks when meeting with Regina Ip, chair of Hong Kong's New People's Party.

Zhang said the HKSAR is now faced with three major tasks: achieving universal suffrage in 2017, economic growth, and maintaining social harmony and stability.

The top legislator urged the New People's Party to support the HKSAR government and bring together more middle-class professionals in Hong Kong to contribute to Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.