Enhanced communication and sober-minded talks with people who hold different views will benefit Hong Kong's social harmony and stability, said a leading official of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) last night.

The official said in an interview with Xinhua that it is the central authorities' wish and the common desire of Hong Kong residents that calm and face-to-face frank exchanges are held to seek common ground and jointly create an atmosphere of peace and harmony in the SAR.

He made the remarks in response to the so-called "reconciliation" suggestions put forward recently by some Hong Kong people.

The official said: "We will be more pro-active in having exchanges with people from various walks of life and social strata in an effort to maintain the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong and seek happiness and well-being for Hong Kong compatriots."

He said the central authorities have steadfastly been upholding the "One Country, Two Systems" principle in handling Hong Kong affairs.

On issues concerning Hong Kong's constitutional development, the central authorities have acted in strict accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law of the HKSAR; and extensively collected views from people of various walks of life including those who have suggested universal suffrage in selecting the chief executive in 2007 and the formation of the Legislative Council in 2008, the official said.

He said leading officials of the Liaison Office had gathered views from those who insisted on universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008 and patiently explained to them the central authorities' stance.

He quoted relevant decisions of the National People's Congress (NPC) as saying that while examining Hong Kong's constitutional development issues, the NPC Standing Committee had fully taken notice of the fact that Hong Kong society has recently been paying attention to the method of selecting the chief executive in 2007 and the formation of the Legislative Council in 2008, including the suggestions of some organizations and people who wish that the processes are carried out through universal suffrage.

The allegation that the central authorities had not paid attention to some Hong Kong residents' suggestions of universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008 goes against the fact, the official added.

He said as a permanent body of the supreme organ of state power, the NPC Standing Committee made the decisions on the methods for selecting the chief executive and the formation of the Legislative Council prudently, based on ground realities in Hong Kong and in accordance with the principle of "proceeding in an orderly and gradual manner". The decisions have a conclusive legal effect, he stressed.

The official maintained that it does not matter that some Hong Kong people do not understand the central authorities' decisions for the time being; it is possible to seek common ground while setting aside differences.

'Dialogue better than confrontation'

Communication is always preferred to confrontation, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yang Wenchang said Sunday, reacting to the recent conciliatory statements made by the pro-democracy camp in Hong Kong.

He said the central government had kept its door open and there should not be a problem in mutual communication as long as the pro-democracy camp was sincere in its latest move.

For the time being, members of the pro-democracy camp should calmly participate in the government's consultation exercise on local constitutional development, he told reporters while emerging from the United Nations Symposium on Development Programs in China and United Nations/Hong Kong Partnership.

When asked if the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China should be disbanded, he replied that the central government had not asked any group or organization to be disbanded.

But there were certain slogans, and advocacy, of the organization that the central government found unacceptable, he added.

In his speech at the Legislative Council (Legco) meeting on Wednesday, Lau Chin-shek of the Confederation of Trade Unions called for a conciliatory approach towards Beijing and said the planned march on July 1 was not directed at the central government.

Martin Lee, former chairman of the Democratic Party, said he would also move a motion at Legco on June 23 to urge the public to be hand-in-hand with the central government to implement the "One Country, Two Systems" principle.

Sunday, Szeto Wah, chairman of the alliance, disagreed with restraining their choice of slogans but believes the alliance would not block the pro-democracy camp's communication with the central government.

Maria Tam, local deputy to the National People's Congress, hoped the pro-democracy camp could arrive at a common stand first, saying little would be achieved if some asked for communication and others opposed.

Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang said that any steps conducive to an amicable atmosphere would facilitate the discussion on constitutional development and communication with the central government.

"This is what the general public would like to see," he said.

Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam said there should be participation by all political parties concerned, both within and outside the Legco, in order to roll forward constitutional development.

"It is part of the provision of the annexes of the Basic Law that we would require up to two-thirds majority support in the Legco for any scheme to be taken forward," Lam said, adding participation by different political parties on constitutional development was a "welcome development".

Legislator and banker David Li said it would be a good development if members of the pro-democracy camp could communicate with the central government.

This would ease political tension and benefit Hong Kong's economy, Li said.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa will today meet a group of academics who had earlier advertised their views on the local political situation in the press.

(China Daily June 14, 2004)