"Some have suggested that it was under Beijing's instruction that the three radio talk show hosts left their posts. This is definitely not the truth," said State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan to Hong Kong's Asia Television on Tuesday evening.

The resignations of Albert Cheng, Raymond Wong and Allen Lee within a month of each other have prompted some people in Hong Kong to suspect that Beijing is trying to influence Hong Kong's freedom of press and speech in the lead-up to the Legislative Council election in September.

Tang is so far the highest-ranking central government official to speak on the recent incidents concerning the hosts.

Without mentioning a name, he said one of the three radio hosts left Hong Kong because of heavy debts.

"It was his own intention to flee to Canada, because he could no longer stay in Hong Kong. How could he say it was under pressure from Beijing?" Tang asked.

He noted that the interpretation by the country's top legislature on Basic Law annexes concerning electoral changes had been made to safeguard Hong Kong's prosperity, stability and development.

"Stability is of the utmost importance. Without it, how could Hong Kong have real democracy and freedom?" he said.

(China Daily June 2, 2004)