A spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region reiterated Friday that the HKSAR government will take forward constitutional development in accordance with the Basic Law and the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC).

The spokesman made the remarks in response to the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China's hearing on Hong Kong's Legislative Council election.

He said: "The Basic Law provides that the elections of the Chief Executive and all the members of the Legislative Council (LegCo) by universal suffrage is the ultimate aim, and this will be achieved by gradual and orderly progress and in the light of the actual situation of Hong Kong."

"We hope that foreign governments and legislatures will continue to respect the principle that Hong Kong's electoral arrangements should be made in accordance with the Basic Law," he said.

He said that the Hong Kong residents will continue to play an important role in Hong Kong's constitutional development. The Constitutional Development Task Force chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration will endeavor to find common ground and build consensus in taking forward the constitutional development process, he added.

The spokesman said that the election for the third term LegCo held on Sept. 12, 2004 is "an important milestone in Hong Kong's constitutional development." For the first time, 50 percent of the LegCo Members are returned by direct election, and the number of candidates participated, the voter turnout in terms of number and percentage are all historic highs, he said.

"These figures vividly demonstrate public support of the electoral system," he said.

The spokesman noted, "The election has been conducted in an open, fair and honest manner. Although there have been some administrative hiccups in the practical arrangements for the election, they have in no way compromised the integrity of the election." "The Electoral Affairs Commission has undertaken to review the arrangements, which will submit a report to the Chief Executive as required under the law. All election-related complaints will also be thoroughly and comprehensively investigated by the Commission and other relevant authorities," he said.

Source: Xinhua