Interpretation of the Basic Law and other decisions by the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee simply does not involve the question of so called "inconsistency with the high degree of autonomy" in Hong Kong, Hong Kong's self-governance, and China was strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to the British government's recent comments on the issue.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan made the remarks in Beijing Thursday in response to the British government's Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong Affairs presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Since Hong Kong's return to Chinese control seven years ago, the principles of "One Country, Two Systems," "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy have been fully implemented, Kong acknowledged. All basic freedoms and rights legally granted to Hong Kong residents have also been fully guaranteed, he said, adding it is known to all that Hong Kong's democratic process is advancing according to the Basic Law.

Kong noted that the development of Hong Kong's democratic system concerns not only the implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" and the Basic Law, but also the relationship between China's central government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), as well as Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability.

The interpretation of the annex rules of the Basic Law made by the NPC Standing Committee and the decision it made on issues of electing Hong Kong's Chief Executive in 2007 and forming the Legislative Council (LegCo) in 2008 is legal and necessary, and will benefit the fundamental interests of the general public in Hong Kong as well as the healthy development of Hong Kong's political system, added Kong.

The Chinese government is steadfast with its resolve to implement the principles of "One County, two systems," "Hong Kong People administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy; it has consistently stood for developing Hong Kong's democratic system in compliance with specific conditions in Hong Kong, and it is ready to work with Hong Kong compatriots under the "One Country, Two Systems" policy to make Hong Kong still more prosperous and democratic, the spokesman said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2004)