Xinhua News Agency today quoted an unnamed official from the central government's Liaison Office in Hong Kong as expressing support for a speech made by the special administrative region's Chief Executive Donald Tsang after its Legislative Council rejected proposals for constitutional reform.
   
"The constitutional reform proposals have won the support of a large percentage of Hong Kong citizens as shown by various polls," the official said, and though it secured the votes of over half the legislators it failed to gain the two-thirds majority required.
   
"The voting results do not accord with the mainstream of Hong Kong people's opinion and are what we all do not want to see," he said.
   
"We hope and believe that Hong Kong people from all walks of life will continue to support the Chief Executive and HKSAR government in their governance according to law, so as to maintain Hong Kong's current hard-earned good situation, promote stability and prosperity of Hong Kong, and create conditions for finally achieving the goal of universal suffrage," he said.

Two motions on proposed amendments to the Method for Selecting the Chief Executive in 2007 and the Method for Forming the Legislative Council in 2008, supported by the SAR and central governments, were submitted to the Legislative Council on Wednesday.
         
Xinhua said that, according to the Basic Law and the National People's Congress Standing Committee's interpretations and decisions, no amendment will now be made to selection methods for 2007 or 2008, and existing provisions will continue to be applicable.

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2005)