Various Hong Kong mass organizations said in Hong Kong that they welcome the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee's examination of Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa's report in its coming meeting and collection of views from representatives from various walks of life on Hong Kong's constitutional development.

They said all this indicated that the central authorities respect Hong Kong's public opinions.

Anthony Nightingale, newly elected chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, said Tuesday at a press conference that Hong Kong has been enjoying a stable and prosperous social environment. The commerce sector believed that Hong Kong people would reach a consensus on the constitutional development issues finally.

He said he believed that the NPC Standing Committee's interpretation of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region would not affect Hong Kong's business environment or investors' confidence.

He said on the issue of constitutional development, "we call for a focus by the community on institutional building, rather than fixation on a date."

He stressed that we "must keep our eyes on maintaining economic prosperity and stability."

The new chairman said his chamber has already upgraded its forecast for real economic growth this year to 5 percent from 3.8 percent, which was announced last December.

He said his association is also reducing its deflationary expectations to 1 percent from 1.5 percent for 2004.

Lee Kok-keung, governor of the Hong Kong Cultural Association Ltd (HKCA), said that it only took five days after Tung Chee Hwa submitted the report on Hong Kong's constitutional development that the NPC Standing Committee's chairman and vice chairmen's meeting decided to examine the report on April 25 and 25. The meeting also decided to listen to the views of Hong Kong people from various walks of life.

Lee said since the central authorities greatly respect the public opinions, people from various walks of life should fully express their views.

He said Hong Kong people believed that the NPC Standing Committee would make decisions according to practical situation in Hong Kong and in a step-by-step manner.

He believed that the central authorities' decision is expected to ensure that the constitutional development would consider interests of Hong Kong's various social strata, which will benefit a balanced representation.

He said the decision is also expected to be in favor of Hong Kong's economic and financial development.

Chan Wing Kee, honorary chairman of the Hong Kong Textile Council, said since the Basic Law has listed the universal suffrage as its ultimate goal, it will be improper to achieve the goal by only one step. An old Chinese saying "more haste, less speed" just explains the situating.

A head of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries said the framework for Hong Kong's political development has been determined so far and that he expected Hong Kong people from various walks of life to make common efforts to maintain Hong Kong's long-term stability and prosperity.

Source: Xinhua