Chief Executive (CE) Tung Chee-hwa told a US Congressional delegation on Friday that Hong Kong people can handle their own affairs well.

Tung met the delegation, led by the chairman of the House Committee on International Relations Henry J. Hyde, to exchange views on the latest developments in Hong Kong as well as its economic and trade relations with the US.

On constitutional development, he said Hong Kong citizens had enjoyed unprecedented democracy since reunification in 1997.

Hong Kong's political structure is developing under the principle of gradual and orderly progress and moving towards the ultimate aim of universal suffrage, in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law and the decision made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Tung said.

"Hong Kong people are capable of dealing with their own affairs well," Tung stressed.

He pointed out that Hong Kong's democratic development has made substantial progress since reunification. The number of directly elected seats of the Legislative Council has increased from 20 in 1998 to 30 this year, Tung told the delegation.

Meanwhile, a mainland official on Friday expressed strong displeasure over defamatory comments made by Hyde on China's development and foreign policy when he delivered a speech to the US Heritage Foundation on Thursday.

A spokesman of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the SAR condemned Hyde for smearing China's foreign policy with a Cold War mentality.

"As everybody knows, China's development does not only serve the interest of 1.3 billion Chinese people, it is also conducive to maintaining the world's prosperity and development," he said.

He stressed that China is a responsible country which has been playing an active role in the maintenance of world peace and stability.

"As far as the non-proliferation issue is concerned, China has always rigorously honoured all international treaties concerned. We firmly oppose any form of nuclear proliferation and advocate the resolution of these problems through consultation, dialogue and better supervision."

The spokesman criticized Hyde for turning a blind eye to facts.

"Making such extremely irresponsible comments at a time when Sino-US relations are becoming more healthy and stable did not tally with the consensus recently reached between leaders of the two countries over the development of bilateral ties.

"It also ran counter to the mainstream opinion in the US that calls for stronger co-operative relations with China. It was undoubtedly harmful to the development of Sino-US relations," he said.

(China Daily HK Edition December 4, 2004)