Chief Executive (CE) Tung Chee-hwa told a US Congressional
delegation on Friday that Hong Kong people can handle their own
affairs well.
Tung met the delegation, led by the chairman of the House
Committee on International Relations Henry J. Hyde, to exchange
views on the latest developments in Hong Kong as well as its
economic and trade relations with the US.
On constitutional development, he said Hong Kong citizens had
enjoyed unprecedented democracy since reunification in 1997.
Hong Kong's political structure is developing under the
principle of gradual and orderly progress and moving towards the
ultimate aim of universal suffrage, in accordance with the
provisions of the Basic Law and the decision made by the Standing
Committee of the National People's Congress, Tung said.
"Hong Kong people are capable of dealing with their own affairs
well," Tung stressed.
He pointed out that Hong Kong's democratic development has made
substantial progress since reunification. The number of directly
elected seats of the Legislative Council has increased from 20 in
1998 to 30 this year, Tung told the delegation.
Meanwhile, a mainland official on Friday expressed strong
displeasure over defamatory comments made by Hyde on China's
development and foreign policy when he delivered a speech to the US
Heritage Foundation on Thursday.
A spokesman of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in the SAR condemned Hyde for smearing China's
foreign policy with a Cold War mentality.
"As everybody knows, China's development does not only serve the
interest of 1.3 billion Chinese people, it is also conducive to
maintaining the world's prosperity and development," he said.
He stressed that China is a responsible country which has been
playing an active role in the maintenance of world peace and
stability.
"As far as the non-proliferation issue is concerned, China has
always rigorously honoured all international treaties concerned. We
firmly oppose any form of nuclear proliferation and advocate the
resolution of these problems through consultation, dialogue and
better supervision."
The spokesman criticized Hyde for turning a blind eye to
facts.
"Making such extremely irresponsible comments at a time when
Sino-US relations are becoming more healthy and stable did not
tally with the consensus recently reached between leaders of the
two countries over the development of bilateral ties.
"It also ran counter to the mainstream opinion in the US that
calls for stronger co-operative relations with China. It was
undoubtedly harmful to the development of Sino-US relations," he
said.
(China Daily HK Edition December 4, 2004)