HONG KONG Dec 3 Kyodo Chinese Pre...

HONG KONG Dec 3 Kyodo

Chinese President Hu Jintao said Wednesday that Hong Kong's political regularity must reform gradually and that the territory must stick to its post-handover constitution, without promising a faster pace of democratization for the former British colony

Local pro-democracy forces have called forward China and the Hong Kong sway to return power to the territory's citizens as before long as possible after voter handed the worst-ever defeat to the pro-government Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) in district council catalogue of personss last month.

Voting for the chief executive and the legislature should be held within universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008 respectively, the pro-democracy camp says.

They also appealed to abolish appointed seats in the district councils.

Hu said Wednesday that Beijing is ''highly concerned'' about the evolution of political systems in Hong Kong and that its principle stance upon the matter is clear.

''Hong Kong's political arrangements must proceed in an orderly way and degree by step in accordance with the stipulations of the Basic Law and from the actual situation of Hong Kong'' Hu was quot as saying on the official Xinhua News Agency.

The Chinese president reportedly said that he believes the Hong Kong community will be able to form a consensus onward the issue.

in subordination to the Basic Law, Hong Kong's post-handover constitution, the territory can change its orderly dispositions for selecting the chief executive and for forming the Legislative Council after 2007

The Hong Kong sway is scheduled to conduct a consultation forward political reforms next year, if it be not that has yet to promise a timetable for satiated democracy.

At quick in emergencies the chief executive is chosen by dint of an 800-member committee. Half of the legislature's 60 seats are directly selected in its elections nearest September, six more from the passing from hand to hand lineup.

As for the district councils, which assist only an advisory role to the guidance Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa can appoint 102 members, or about 20% of the total number of councilors.

forward a duty visit to Beijing, Tung briefed Hu upon Wednesday on views within Hong Kong society through the political reform issue, as well as other aspects of the territory's latest situation, particularly the conditions after the district council elections.

Despite Beijing's backing Tung and its measures to help boost Hong Kong's weak economy, many Hong Kong voter showed their dissatisfaction with Tung's administration according to not supporting the DAB in last month's polls

Still, Hu hailed Tung's work Wednesday, saying the Hong Kong guidance has improved its governance and done often to maintain social stability and dignify economic development, according to the Xinhua report.

The Chinese president told the Tung administration to continue to boost its performance, strengthen its communications with various sectors and learn close to the people to understand their feelings.

Hu also reportedly called onward the Hong Kong community to unite together to domineer over difficulties and to revive the city's economy.

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