The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Monday welcomed the decision by China's top legislative body on issues concerning Hong Kong's constitutional development.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said the decision made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) is in the overall and long-term interests of Hong Kong society, and is conducive to maintaining Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability.

Tung said that the decision is of great importance and is based on opinions from all circles of Hong Kong.

He cited Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, as saying that the decision will be of tremendous and profound significance to the gradual and orderly progress of constitutional development and to Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability.

He said that the Hong Kong government welcomed the decision, which formally launched the amendment mechanism of the annexes of the Basic Law.

For the past three months, the Constitutional Development Task Force led by Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang has consulted with all circles in Hong Kong and with central government departments, properly handling issues of principles and legal procedures concerning constitutional development, said Tung.

Based on such a solid foundation, it is now the right time to push forward the work of constitutional development, said Tung.

The chief executive said he had asked the task force to submit the third report on Hong Kong's constitutional development by May, and move forward to the next step in a rational and practical way.

Tung called on various political organizations and all circles of Hong Kong to remain calm and rational, get rid of prejudice, put aside disputes, seek common ground while reserving differences, and join forces to reach a common understanding on Hong Kong's constitutional development. A leading member of the Liaison Office of Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said Monday the liaison office firmly supports the decision on Hong Kong's constitutional development.

He believes that the majority of Hong Kong residents also support the new decision.

The leading member said the NPC Standing Committee's decision is another important measure for properly handling the issue of Hong Kong's constitutional development, made according to the actual situation in Hong Kong, related articles of the Basic Law and concerning interpretations.

He said the decision was made after extensively collecting views from various walks of life in Hong Kong and views of the related departments of the central government.

He said the NPC Standing Committee exercised its power and duty entrusted by the central authorities and the Basic Law by adopting the decision, which indicates the central authorities' high degree of responsibility for all Chinese people including Hong Kong compatriots.

He said the important decision was helpful to making sober- minded discussion and reaching consensus on the amendment of the methods for selection of the chief executive in 2007 and formation of the Legislative Council in 2008 by various walks of life in Hong Kong.

He believes the decision is also helpful to the sound and steady development of Hong Kong's democratic election system and on the track of the Basic Law.

He stressed that the decision is in favour of maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and safeguarding the happiness and well-being of its residents as well as their overall interests.

He said the decision advocates the practicing of Hong Kong's constitutional development in a gradual and orderly process and accords to the actual situation in Hong Kong and is in accordance with the Basic Law.

Parties and business back prudent move

Major political parties and the business community in Hong Kong voiced their support Monday for the decision by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) that rules out universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008.

James Tien of the Liberal Party said he welcomed and supported the decision.

He noted that many people in the community are concerned that universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008 would not fulfil the principle of "gradual and orderly progress".

"We shall make no haste because we do not possess the right conditions, such as the maturity of political parties and enough political talents," he said.

Ma Lik, chairman of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong, said his party supports the decision as it provides room for discussion on the election methods in 2007 and 2008.

He called on Hong Kong people to explore specific election methods for 2007 and 2008 within the framework of the NPCSC decision in a rational manner.

Albert Chen, a law professor with the University of Hong Kong and a member of the Committee for the Basic Law, called on Hong Kong people to respect the decision.

"On the one hand, the decision emphasizes gradual and orderly progress; and on the other, it provides Hong Kong society ample space (for reforms), such as the size of composition of the Election Committee (for the chief executive) and the functional constituencies," he said.

Chan Wing-kee, a standing committee member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said the most important tasks Hong Kong faces are to improve the economy, attract foreign investment and generate more jobs.

He called on politicians not to create any more trouble so as to maintain Hong Kong's stability and foreign investors' confidence.

Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Eden Woon opined that democracy goes beyond universal suffrage.

But the "pro-democracy" bloc reacted strongly against the decision, saying it has undermined "One Country, Two Systems" and the high degree of autonomy that Hong Kong enjoys.

Democratic Party Chairman Yeung Sum criticized the NPCSC ruling as a case of "Beijing people running Hong Kong".

Hong Kong Bar Association Chairman Edward Chan regretted the decision had ruled out universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008 and he called it "rash and random".

The Article 45 Concern Group expressed grave regret over the decision and queried its constitutionality.

(China Daily & China Daily HK Edition April 27, 2004)