The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government would not conduct a referendum on constitutional development, a government spokesman said Sunday.

He elaborated that the referendum was inconsistent with the procedures stipulated in the Basic Law, and would not be conducive to building consensus on the two electoral methods for 2007 and 2008.

The spokesman noted that the Hong Kong community should promote constitutional development in accordance with the Basic Law and the decision made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) on April 26 this year.

"Our immediate task is to make full use of the room available under the NPCSC's decision to further open up the electoral methods," he said, noting that the idea of a referendum, which goes beyond this amendment mechanism of the Basic Law, was neither necessary nor appropriate.

The spokesman said that two important requirements had been enshrined in the tripartite amendment mechanism stipulated in the Basic Law.

"Firstly, it requires that any changes to the electoral methods beyond 2007 must receive broad-based support within LegCo.

"Secondly, no changes will be possible without the support of the Central Authorities. This requires that any discussion on the specific proposals has to be conducted on the basis of the Basic Law and the NPCSC's decision," he pointed out.