The government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will continue to unswervingly implement the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and the Basic Law, said a government spokesman Thursday night.

The spokesman made the remarks in response to a "Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong" submitted to the British parliament by British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affair Jack Straw Thursday.

He said the HKSAR government noticed that the report confirmed the generally well practice of the "One Country, Two Systems" in Hong Kong. "

The spokesman urged the foreign governments and parliaments to stick to one important principle: all the election-related arrangements must be made according to the Basic Law.

In regard to the comments in the report on constitutional development, the spokesman said the Basic Law expressly provides that the ultimate aims are the selection of the Chief Executive and the formation of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage.

In its decision of April 2004, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) reaffirmed that developing democracy in Hong Kong in the light of the actual situation in Hong Kong and in a gradual and orderly manner according to the provisions of the Basic Law was the resolute and firm stance of the central government.

He said the Constitutional Development Task Force has been consulting the public on changes to be made to the two methods of election. The consultation process is proceeding on a step by step manner and the public are welcomed to put their view to the Task Force.

He said the Task Force is expected to issue its fifth report and put forward a mainstream plan, and manage to win support of the legislators and the public.

Source: Xinhua