Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa slammed a motion calling for a referendum on universal suffrage in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday, saying the act would "seriously" damage community harmony and its relationship with central government.

Tung categorically ruled out any constitutional changes that may depart from the Basic Law and rulings made by the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC).

Backing Tung's views, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong Gao Siren warned that the referendum amounted to a challenge to the country's constitutional setup.

Gao said the move contravened the legal status of the HKSAR, the Basic Law provisions on the election of chief executive and the Legislative Council, as well as NPCSC rulings.

On April 26, the NPCSC ruled out universal suffrage for the election of the chief executive in 2007 and the formation of the Legislative Council in 2008. It also said that constitutional development must follow a gradual and orderly pace.

The constitutional affairs panel of the Legislative Council on Monday debated a motion moved by lawmaker Fernando Cheung to request a referendum on constitutional reforms for 2007 and 2008, including direct elections by universal suffrage.

Members of both the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong and Liberal Party spoke against the motion during the two-and-a-half-hour meeting.

Issuing a strongly worded statement ahead of the meeting, Tung said the motion had caused serious concern in the community and among various concerned parties.

He said the Basic Law already had clear provisions on the constitutional development of Hong Kong and the procedure for electoral change. What's more, clear rulings had been made in April in Beijing for the elections in 2007 and 2008 in strict accordance with the law and following consultations with different sectors in the HKSAR.

"The NPCSC is the highest organ of state power. The HKSAR must abide by and implement its decisions," Tung said.

(China Daily November 16, 2004)