China's Central Authorities officials stressed in Hong Kong Monday that the decision by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) concerning Hong Kong's election methods in 2007 and 2008 is a major decision for guiding Hong Kong's constitutional development.

Qiao Xiaoyang, deputy secretary-general of the NPC Standing Committee, Li Fei, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the NPC Standing Committee, and Xu Ze, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council emphasized that facts have proved that the Central Authorities have always been attaching great importance to and strongly supported the advancement of Hong Kong's democratic process.

He said it is the Central Authorities' responsibility to implement the principle of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong," and high degree of autonomy, as well as to maintain Hong Kong's long-term stability and prosperity.

Qiao Xiaoyang, Li Fei and Xuze, at the invitation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in SAR, arrived here Monday afternoon to attend two forums on NPC Standing Committee's decision on Hong Kong's constitutional development.

The NPC Standing Committee adopted a decision Monday morning under which the method of universal suffrage shall not apply to the election of the chief executive of the HKSAR in 2007, nor to the election of all members of the Fourth Legislative Council in 2008.

Qiao said at the forums that the NPC Standing Committee has also heeded opinions of NPC deputies from Hong Kong, members of the National Committee of the Chinese People' s Political Consultative Conference from Hong Kong, various circles in the Hong Kong society, Hong Kong representatives in the HKSAR Basic Law Committee, the HKSAR Constitutional Development Task Force and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.

The NPC Standing Committee in its deliberation fully noticed the recent attention paid by the Hong Kong society to methods for selecting the chief executive in 2007 and for forming the Legislative Council in 2008.

Qiao noted that to advance Hong Kong's democracy process has been Central Authorities' all along principle.

Hong Kong residents have enjoyed unprecedented democratic rights since the establishment of the HKSAR, which have all been achieved by the support of the Central Authorities, said Qiao.

"The Central Authorities will as in the past put forward Hong Kong's democratic process in accordance with the Hong Kong Basic Law," said Qiao.

Qiao Xiaoyang said, advancing Hong Kong's democracy is the central authorities' consistent stance.

To ensure that Hong Kong residents exercise their rights as masters after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the Central Authorities announced that democratic election system would be practiced in Hong Kong, he said.

He said promoting Hong Kong's democracy in a gradual process is the important essence of the Basic Law and an important part of " Hong Kong People governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy.

Qiao said the Basic Law not only adopts a clear and definite short term development plan for Hong Kong's democratic development, but also drafts the long-term plan of Hong Kong's democratic development, which indicates the Central Authorities' determination and confidence in continuously promoting democracy in Hong Kong.

He stressed that no doubt, Hong Kong is enjoying the highest level of democracy since its return to the motherland while all the achievements were made with the support of the Central Authorities.

He promised that the Central Authorities will provide support to advance the democratic process in Hong Kong as usual, in accordance with the Basic Law.

Qiao said, Hong Kong's constitutional development must be promoted on the track of the Basic Law, in accordance with the actual situation.

He stressed that the urgent task for Hong Kong is to make concerted efforts towards the targets outlined by the decision.

Li Fei and Xu Ze also delivered speeches at the forum. They pointed out that Hong Kong's democracy must be promoted in a gradual and orderly process, based on the current political system.

They said the NPC Standing Committee's decision must be implemented with an aim of maintaining Hong Kong's long-term stability and prosperity.

Representatives from various walks of life in Hong Kong expressed their support to the NPC Standing Committee's decision on Hong Kong's constitutional development at the forum.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa said earlier Monday that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government welcomed the NPC Standing Committee's decision.

The two forums were jointly hosted by the HKSAR government and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR.

(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2004)