A spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said Wednesday that the central government unwilling to see Hong Kong government's constitutional reform motions voted down.

Although both the two motions on amendment of the Method for Selecting the Chief Executive in 2007 and the Method for Forming the Legislative Council in 2008 submitted by submitted by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Wednesday won support of over half of the 60-seat chamber, the Legislative Council (LegCo), they were not adopted because they did not win a two-thirds majority of the votes, a requirement set by the Basic Law.

The HKSAR government published the two proposals after 18 months of consultation on the basis of soliciting opinions from various walks of life and submitted them to the LegCo.

Describing the proposals as being in line with the Basic Law and the relevant explanations and decisions the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, made in April of 2004, the spokesman said that the proposals, representing the principle of developing Hong Kong democracy in proper order, have received much support from the local public since its publication and won support of over half of the 60-seat chamber.

But the proposals failed to be adopted as did not win a two-thirds majority of the votes.

"The HKSAR government and HK public, as well as the central covernment, are unwilling to see the result as which is not in line with the mainstream of the public opinions in Hong Kong," said the spokesman.

"We fully agree with and support the statement of the HKSAR Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and appreciate the efforts the HKSAR government has made to promote the development of HK political system," the spokesman said.

As the constitutional reform motions failed to be adopted, the methods for selecting the chief executive in 2007 and for forming the Legislative Council in 2008 will remain the same according to the Basic Law and the relevant explanations by the Chinese top legislature, he said. "We believe the HKSAR government can do a good job to ensure the smooth elections in 2007 and 2008."

"It is a persistent stance of the central government to support the development of democracy in proper order in Hong Kong in line with the Basic Law," he said. "We hope sincerely that all Hong Kong people will find out a suitable road leading to the development of Hong Kong democracy with a reasonable and realistic attitude and sense of responsibility for the history."

"We believe that Hong Kong citizens will value much the stable society and continuous economic development in Hong Kong and seek social solidarity and harmony," he said. "The central government will continue to spare no efforts to support the HKSAR government and chief executive to exercise governance and safeguard and promote the long-standing prosperity and stability of Hong Kong along with the citizens."

Source: Xinhua