The legislative procedure of Article 23 of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HKSAR) is "democratic and transparent," and
its enactment will not restrict the legal rights of Hong Kong
people, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing
Tuesday.
"Legislation of the ordinance is China's internal affair. We do not
accept the casual opinions of officials from some countries about
it," he said at a press conference.
While examining the draft ordinance concerning national security,
the HKSAR Legislative Council had solicited public opinion in an
in-depth manner, he said.
The ordinance, which is intended to safeguard national security and
unity, upheld the principle of safeguarding Hong Kong residents'
rights and freedoms on the basis of the Basic Law and conformed
with regulations on the application of two international human
rights conventions to Hong Kong, he said.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was visiting Hong Kong on the sixth
anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China and attended the
ceremony for the signing of the Mainland-Hong Kong Closer Economic
Partnership Arrangement, Kong said.
Hong Kong had made significant achievements since its return to
China, and the "one China, two systems" concept had proved
successful, he said.
The development of Hong Kong contributed greatly to the
construction, reform and opening-up of the Chinese mainland, while
the development of the mainland also served to reinforce Hong
Kong's stability and prosperity, he said.
"Hong Kong belongs to China and to the Hong Kong people," Kong
said. "We hope Hong Kong will always thrive and its economy will
pick up soon."
(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2003)