Xinhua News Agency is releasing a signed article by Tang Hua, deputy editor-in-chief of its own magazine Outlook Weekly, titled "Constitutional developments in Hong Kong should be safeguarded to follow the direction laid down by the Basic Law." The contents of the commentary are as follows:

The Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) is reviewing draft interpretations on provisions in the Basic Law annexes. The NPC Standing Committee, with a high sense of responsibility, is exercising its solemn duty entrusted by the Constitution and the Basic Law in response to the objective requirements of comprehensive implementation of the Basic Law. Its purpose is to safeguard the supreme authority of the Basic Law in the course of the country's creative practices of enacting the principle of "one country, two systems," and to make sure that Hong Kong's constitutional developments follow the direction as defined in the Basic Law.

The NPC has decided on the political structure of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in the Basic Law based on the principle of "one country, two systems" and the central government's policies towards Hong Kong. This constitutional structure is in line with the legal status of the HKSAR, reflects the actual conditions of Hong Kong society, represents interests of all social strata there, conduces to the development of the capitalist economy and lays out the political foundations of long-term stability and prosperity for the region.

The executive power plays a dominant role in Hong Kong's political structure with its Chief Executive placed at an extremely vital position; The Legislative Council (LegCo) as its legislature also play a very important role in the political setup. Therefore, how to choose the Chief Executive and LegCo members, whether methods on the election of the Chief Executive and formation of the LegCo need to be revised and how to revise, are all major issues of Hong Kong's constitutional developments and affects the stability of the political foundations of Hong Kong society. These issues must be solved in strict compliance with the principles as defined by the Basic Law of proceeding from the actual conditions of Hong Kong in a step-by-step manner and ensuring balanced representation of people from all walks of life. Those principles must be observed with no deviations.

At present, different understandings of the Basic Law's certain provisions exist in Hong Kong concerning its constitutional developments, and fierce rows have also ensued. If such misunderstandings were not clarified by law, the right not told from the wrong, interference not removed, the principle of "one country, two systems" would not be implemented in an all-round way, and the democratic system development concerned by the Hong Kong public will not be carried out in the direction set forth by the Basic Law. Thus the conscientious and earnest interpretations that the NPC Standing Committee is making, based on the purview entrusted by the Constitution, the Basic Law and due legal procedures, are entirely essential and timely.

The move to interpret the Basic Law annex provisions this time epitomizes that the central government is taking the highest responsibility for Hong Kong's political stability, economic prosperity and social harmony, demonstrates the central government's resolve of unswerving adherence to the Basic Law, as well as its authority over its understanding and enforcement of the Basic Law. The interpretation move has won endorsement from the overall public of Hong Kong.

This move also indicates that any issue or dispute pertaining to Hong Kong constitutional development must be resolved within the framework as defined by the Basic Law, and the NPC Standing Committee is responsible to correct, in accordance with the Basic Law itself, any stance or action that is inconsistent with the Basic Law.

It is believed that the majority of sober-minded Hong Kong residents can realize both the starting point and final goal of interpretations the NPC Standing Committee is to make are precisely for the better implementation of the "one country, two systems" policy and the Basic Law itself and for the long-term prosperity and stability of the region.

(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2004)