In response to the European Commission's Report on Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) 2004, a HKSAR government spokesman said Friday, "We cannot accept the proposition that there have been changes in the implementation of 'One Country, Two Systems'."

He stressed, "It is a well recognized fact that 'One Country, Two Systems' has been successfully implemented since Hong Kong's return to the motherland and the establishment of the HKSAR in 1997. The various systems of the HKSAR have been preserved and maintained in accordance with the Basic Law.

The spokesman added, "Freedom, human rights, the rule of law and an independent judiciary are fully protected in Hong Kong. A survey recently conducted by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy rates Hong Kong's judicial system as the best in Asia. "

He said that Hong Kong continues to be an international and regional trading and financial center. For 11 years in a row, Hong Kong has been named the world's freest economy by the Heritage Foundation.

Last year, there were over 3,600 foreign companies with their regional headquarters or regional offices in Hong Kong, an all- time high figure and an increase of over 43 percent since 1997.

"All these facts reflect the confidence of the international community in Hong Kong," he added.

On constitutional development, the government spokesman said, " The comments made in the report reflect a misunderstanding of Hong Kong's constitutional arrangement."

He noted, "Our electoral systems are progressing in a gradual and orderly manner in accordance with the Basic Law.

The spokesman stressed, "We hope that foreign governments and legislatures will continue to respect the principle that HKSAR's electoral arrangements must be made in accordance with the Basic Law."

Source: Xinhua