A senior official in charge of Hong Kong affairs reiterated yesterday that its has been an unswerving goal of the central government to advance democracy in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

"We should advance democracy in accordance with the Basic Law, with the final goal of reaching universal suffrage," said Chen Zuo'er, vice-minister of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.

"Democracy was first introduced into the Basic Law, and we have been unswervingly complying by it," he told reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing 17th Party Congress.

"We will pursue democracy in an orderly and progressive manner and ensure that it suits the situation in Hong Kong," Chen said.

The vice-minister also said he fully supports CPC General Secretary Hu Jintao's proposal in his political report to the congress on Monday that the country will "firmly oppose attempts by any external force to interfere in its affairs".

According to Chen, Hu's report devoted an unusually large part to Hong Kong and Macao affairs.

Reflecting on the decade-long experience of implementing the "one country, two systems" principle, Chen said "it has proved that the model is a complete success and has lasting vigor."

"During the past 10 years, in compliance with the Basic Law, the central government has ensured a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong people," Chen said.

"The central government has fully supported Hong Kong in promoting economic development, improving the well-being of the people and developing democracy and encouraging people from all walks of life to participate in the territory's affairs," Chen said.

Affirming the special position of the SAR as an international financial hub, the central government has also integrated into its 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10) with Hong Kong's development.

Chen called the development of the HKSAR since the 16th CPC National Congress an "extraordinary five years".

For instance, the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), launched in 2003, has provided Hong Kong businesses with access to the mainland market ahead of China's WTO schedule. Now under the framework, 38 service and trade enterprises on the mainland have been opened to Hong Kong businessmen.

The scope of investment by mainland banks for their clients under the QDII (qualified domestic institutional investors) scheme has also been recently expanded, enlarging financial cooperation between the mainland and the SAR.

Also, residents in 49 cities from 22 mainland provinces and municipalities are now able to visit Hong Kong under the "Individual Visit Scheme", which has further enhanced exchanges with the mainland.

(China Daily October 17, 2007)