China's Central Authorities officials stressed in Hong Kong
Monday that the decision by the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress (NPC) concerning Hong Kong's election methods in
2007 and 2008 is a major decision for guiding Hong Kong's
constitutional development.
Qiao Xiaoyang, deputy secretary-general of the NPC Standing
Committee, Li Fei, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs
Committee of the NPC Standing Committee, and Xu Ze, deputy director
of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council
emphasized that facts have proved that the Central Authorities have
always been attaching great importance to and strongly supported
the advancement of Hong Kong's democratic process.
He said it is the Central Authorities' responsibility to
implement the principle of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong
people governing Hong Kong," and high degree of autonomy, as well
as to maintain Hong Kong's long-term stability and prosperity.
Qiao Xiaoyang, Li Fei and Xuze, at the invitation of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and the
Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in SAR, arrived
here Monday afternoon to attend two forums on NPC Standing
Committee's decision on Hong Kong's constitutional development.
The NPC Standing Committee adopted a decision Monday morning
under which the method of universal suffrage shall not apply to the
election of the chief executive of the HKSAR in 2007, nor to the
election of all members of the Fourth Legislative Council in
2008.
Qiao said at the forums that the NPC Standing Committee has also
heeded opinions of NPC deputies from Hong Kong, members of the
National Committee of the Chinese People' s Political Consultative
Conference from Hong Kong, various circles in the Hong Kong
society, Hong Kong representatives in the HKSAR Basic Law
Committee, the HKSAR Constitutional Development Task Force and the
Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.
The NPC Standing Committee in its deliberation fully noticed the
recent attention paid by the Hong Kong society to methods for
selecting the chief executive in 2007 and for forming the
Legislative Council in 2008.
Qiao noted that to advance Hong Kong's democracy process has
been Central Authorities' all along principle.
Hong Kong residents have enjoyed unprecedented democratic rights
since the establishment of the HKSAR, which have all been achieved
by the support of the Central Authorities, said Qiao.
"The Central Authorities will as in the past put forward Hong
Kong's democratic process in accordance with the Hong Kong Basic
Law," said Qiao.
Qiao Xiaoyang said, advancing Hong Kong's democracy is the
central authorities' consistent stance.
To ensure that Hong Kong residents exercise their rights as
masters after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the Central
Authorities announced that democratic election system would be
practiced in Hong Kong, he said.
He said promoting Hong Kong's democracy in a gradual process is
the important essence of the Basic Law and an important part of "
Hong Kong People governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of
autonomy.
Qiao said the Basic Law not only adopts a clear and definite
short term development plan for Hong Kong's democratic development,
but also drafts the long-term plan of Hong Kong's democratic
development, which indicates the Central Authorities' determination
and confidence in continuously promoting democracy in Hong
Kong.
He stressed that no doubt, Hong Kong is enjoying the highest
level of democracy since its return to the motherland while all the
achievements were made with the support of the Central
Authorities.
He promised that the Central Authorities will provide support to
advance the democratic process in Hong Kong as usual, in accordance
with the Basic Law.
Qiao said, Hong Kong's constitutional development must be
promoted on the track of the Basic Law, in accordance with the
actual situation.
He stressed that the urgent task for Hong Kong is to make
concerted efforts towards the targets outlined by the decision.
Li Fei and Xu Ze also delivered speeches at the forum. They
pointed out that Hong Kong's democracy must be promoted in a
gradual and orderly process, based on the current political
system.
They said the NPC Standing Committee's decision must be
implemented with an aim of maintaining Hong Kong's long-term
stability and prosperity.
Representatives from various walks of life in Hong Kong
expressed their support to the NPC Standing Committee's decision on
Hong Kong's constitutional development at the forum.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa said earlier Monday that
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government
welcomed the NPC Standing Committee's decision.
The two forums were jointly hosted by the HKSAR government and
the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the
HKSAR.
(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2004)