Gao Siren, head of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong, said Monday that the motion of a few members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council calling for a "referendum" on the electoral arrangements is a challenge to the country's constitutional system.

He said, "We express grave concern over the issue."

He said, "Any attempt to conduct a 'referendum' in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, whatever its form or its package, is in violation of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region."

Gao made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua in Beijing Monday.

Tung: HK opposes any acts deviating from Basic Law 
 
Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa said Monday that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government would not consider any proposals on constitutional development that deviate from the Basic Law and the decision of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress (NPC) on the electoral arrangements for 2007 and 2008.

He stressed in a government press release that the HKSAR government opposes any acts that depart from the Basic Law and the NPC Standing Committee's decision on the electoral arrangements for 2007 and 2008, including the holding of a "referendum" on the electoral arrangements.

Tung described a few legislators' motion calling for a "referendum" on the electoral arrangements for 2007 and 2008 as "inappropriate," saying it goes against the established legal procedures, is impractical and misleads the Hong Kong citizens.
 
Liaison Office agrees with Tung's statement on HK's constitutional development
 
Gao Siren, said Monday that the Liaison Office fully agrees with Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa's statement on constitutional development made earlier Monday.

Tung reiterated Monday that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government would not consider any proposals on constitutional development that deviate from the Basic Law and the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on the electoral arrangements for2007 and 2008.

Tung stressed in a government press release that the HKSAR government opposes any acts that depart from the Basic Law and the NPC Standing Committee's decision on the electoral arrangements for 2007 and 2008, including the holding of a "referendum" on the electoral arrangements.

Tung described a few legislators' motion calling for a "referendum" on the electoral arrangements for 2007 and 2008 as "inappropriate," saying it goes against the established legal procedures, is impractical and misleads the Hong Kong citizens.
 
(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2004)