It is well recognized that "One Country, Two Systems" is working well in practice in Hong Kong and that people's rights and freedoms continue to be upheld, a government spokesman said Wednesday.

In response to the Second Report issued by the US Congress US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, the spokesman noted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government will continue to run Hong Kong in strict accordance with the Basic Law.

The spokesman said that the Basic Law had clearly provided for the ultimate aim of the selection of the Chief Executive and the election of all the members of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage. The government would actively promote constitutional development in Hong Kong on the basis of maintaining "One Country, Two Systems" and adhering to the Basic Law, he added.

"According to both the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) has the power to interpret the Basic Law. The exercise of that power by the NPCSC is legal and constitutional, and has in no way affected Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy," the spokesman said.

He pointed that in the light of the relevant provisions of the Basic Law and the decision of the NPCSC adopted on April 26, the Constitutional Development Task Force headed by the Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang published its Third Report on May 11. The Report set out the areas which might be considered for amendment in respect of the methods for the selection of the Chief Executive in 2007 and for forming the Legislative Council in 2008.

"The people of Hong Kong will continue to have an important role to play in Hong Kong's constitutional development," the spokesman said.

Source: Xinhua