The Central Authorities have both the power and the
responsibility to oversee Hong Kong's constitutional development
under the Constitution and the Basic Law, said a spokesman of the
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government on
Friday.
In response to media inquiries on the remarks made by Taiwan
authorities in respect of the rally held?Thursday, the
spokesman said, "As provided in the Basic Law, universal suffrage
is our ultimate aim. Since reunification, the SAR government has
been taking forward democratization in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the Basic Law."
The SAR government will continue to handle work related to
constitutional development in Hong Kong according to this
principle, said the spokesman.
"In the light of the decision of the Standing Committee of the
National
People's Congress (NPC) adopted in April, there is plenty of
room for us to contemplate changes to the election methods for
selecting the Chief Executive and for forming the Legislative
Council, narrowing the gap between the current election methods and
our ultimate aim of universal suffrage," he said.
The spokesman pointed out that in the light of the relevant
provisions of the Basic Law and the NPC Standing Committee's
decision, the Constitutional Development Task Force is gathering
views and specific proposals from individuals and organizations in
the community. The task force will then consolidate the views
received for further public consultation in autumn.
Principle of "one country, two systems" fully
implemented
The principle of "one country, two systems" as enshrined in the
Basic Law has been fully implemented since 1997, and the principle
applies to all systems in Hong Kong, including the economic and
political systems, said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
(HKSAR) government Friday.
A government spokesman made the remarks in response to media
inquiries concerning a letter from the chairman of the
Congressional Committee on International Relations of the United
States to the Chief Executive of HKSAR.
Since Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997, "the Central
Authorities have been firmly committed to upholding the principle
of 'one country, two systems'. There is no erosion whatsoever of
Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy," said the spokesman.
"Over the last seven years, with the strong support of the
Central Authorities, we have successfully turned 'one country, two
systems' into an everyday reality. The economic, trade, legal and
political systems in Hong Kong are different from those of the
mainland. This will remain the case as we move forward," he
said.
"Our freedoms?-- of the press, expression, assembly,
religion and many others?-- remain strong and are deeply
rooted in the rule of law," he added.
"The mass media in Hong Kong remains vibrant and vocal. Freedom
of expression is very much alive in Hong Kong," he said.
"Hong Kong people continue to enjoy religious freedom fully. All
the main religions are practiced in the territory," the spokesman
said.
On constitutional development, the spokesman reiterated that the
HKSAR government attaches great importance to the work in this
area. The government would actively promote constitutional
development in Hong Kong on the basis of "one country, two systems"
and the Basic Law.
The Constitutional Development Task Force, chaired by the Chief
Secretary for Administration is gathering views and specific
proposals from individuals and organizations in the community on
the areas which might be considered for amendment in respect of the
methods for electing the Chief Executive in 2007 and for forming
the Legislative Council in 2008.
The task force will then consolidate the views received for
further public consultation in the autumn. The spokesman stressed
that the people of Hong Kong would continue to have an important
role to play in Hong Kong's constitutional development.
"In recent weeks, there are positive signs that different
sectors of the community are willing to engage in rational dialogue
and to accommodate other points of view. We will endeavor to
leverage on this pragmatism to find common ground and build
consensus as we take forward our democratization process according
to the Basic Law," he said.
The spokesman added, "By constitutional design, the Central
Authorities have constitutional roles and responsibilities in
overseeing Hong Kong's constitutional development."
"We will take forward constitutional development with the
ultimate aim of universal suffrage in accordance with the principle
of gradual and orderly progress, the provisions of the Basic Law
and the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress'
interpretation and decision," the spokesman said.
(Xinhua News Agency July 3, 2004)