Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung Wednesday urged Hongkongers to seek unity for the sake of the well-being of the city. And she warned that rushing to blame one another did not benefit the SAR.

She made the remark in response to former chief secretary Anson Chan's recent article published in Time magazine.

In her article, Chan criticized the central government for its approach in handling constitutional development in Hong Kong.

"Blaming one another does nothing beneficial. There should be more constructive suggestions," Leung said.

"If there is discontent, (we) should not respond with hatred, but should work together to improve the situation calmly."

Lau Nai-keung, a Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) delegate, also criticized Chan for misleading the public in her comments on the central government.

"According to tradition, retired government officials should not make such remarks in public. She has violated the tradition.

"Why did she do that all of a sudden? Why was the 'cultural revolution' suddenly brought to the surface?" he asked.

Lau, who is on a study tour of the northeastern provinces, also expressed concern about the polarization of the community in Hong Kong.

He urged the public not to let their sentiments be manipulated by those who wished to stir up incidents before the Legislative Council (LegCo) elections in September.

Speaking at a public function Wednesday, Chan made a self-defence saying her meaning had been twisted.

Chan said she never said, nor thought, that the handling of issues of constitutional development by the central government equalled the "cultural revolution".

"What I said is that its rhetoric and posturing is reminiscent of the 'cultural revolution'," she said.

On the same study tour with Lau, CPPCC member Chan Wing-kee said that what the central government has done was in Hong Kong's interest and the freedom of speech that the city enjoyed now had never been matched before.

Separately, National People's Congress Standing Committee member Tsang Hin-chi said that given the influence that Anson Chan had, her remarks could undermine Hong Kong's relations with the central government.

Tsang suspected her of trying to help the "pro-democracy" camp in the forthcoming LegCo elections in September.

The Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong Vice-Chairman Ip Kwok-him also said it was improper for Chan to mention the "cultural revolution" -- a catastrophe in modern Chinese history -- in her article.

(China Daily HK Edition June 10, 2004)