The decision made by the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee on Hong Kong's electoral methods was "indisputable," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan on April 27.

At Tuesday's press conference, Kong was asked to comment on the "concern or disappointment" expressed by the US and British officials on the constitutional development in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).

The US and British officials said the decision made by the NPC Standing Committee did not comply with the commitment in the Sino-British joint statement to ensure Hong Kong's "high-level of autonomy."

Kong said the remarks made by the US and British officials "disregard the actual situation in Hong Kong and interfere in China's internal affairs."

China expressed firm opposition to these remarks, he said.

Any unbiased person could see that there is no democracy for Hong Kong residents before it returned to the motherland, he said.

Thanks to the implementation of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong", "high-degree of autonomy" and the Basic Law after Hong Kong returned to the motherland, Hong Kong residents enjoyed more extensive rights and freedom in accordance with law and were empowered to elect the chief executive of Hong Kong SAR, he said.

According to Kong, the 400-member Selection Committee elected Hong Kong SAR's first chief executive and the 800-member electoral committee elected the second chief executive.

The number of directly-elected members from constituencies in the 60-member Legislative Council have increased from 20 in the first Legislative Council to 24 in the second Legislative Council, and will rise to 30 in the election of the third Legislative Council in the upcoming September, he said.

"Obviously, the electoral methods for the chief executive and the Legislative Council have consistently taken into consideration Hong Kong's actual conditions and implemented the principle of gradual progress", the spokesman said.

The NPC Standing Committee's decision on electoral methods for the selection of the Hong Kong's chief executive in 2007 and formation of the Legislative Council in 2008 was "a significant decision" on Hong Kong SAR's constitutional development made by the NPC Standing Committee, in accordance with law, Kong said.

The decision has significant and far-reaching impact to completely implement the guideline of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR, earnestly safeguard the interests of various social circles in Hong Kong and Hong Kong residents in general, guarantee the gradual and healthy development of democratic system in the Hong Kong SAR in accordance with regulations in the Basic Law, and maintain and promote the long-term prosperity and stability in the Hong Kong SAR, the spokesman said.

The decision was made after seriously reviewing Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa's report and listening to opinions of all sides, he said, adding that it is made in strict compliance with the legal procedures.

Contents of the decision comply with the principle of the gradual development of democratic system in Hong Kong as defined in the Basic Law and in line with Hong Kong's practical situation, he said.

The decision also "demonstrates the constant stance adopted by the Central Authorities to advocate and support the development of democracy in the Hong Kong SAR," Kong stressed.

Source: Xinhua