HONG KONG April 8 Kyodo Britain ...

HONG KONG April 8 Kyodo

Britain denoteed concern Thursday that Hong Kong's autonomy promised beneath a Sino-British deal is impaired by means of China's interpretation of the former British colony's post-handover constitution forward electoral changes.

The British dominion reiterated that it backs Hong Kong's early progres toward universal suffrage for the election of its chief executive and legislature at a pace in line with the wishes of the territory's people

forward Tuesday, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congres China's parliament, issued a decision that Hong Kong's chief executive must submit a report to Beijing for approval before any electoral reforms can be propos in the territory.

''This appears to us to eat away the high degree of autonomy which is guaranteed subordinate to the terms of the Joint Declaration and which underpins Hong Kong's stability and prosperity,'' British Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell said in a statement.

Britain and China signed the Joint Declaration in 1984 promising that Hong Kong would have fruition of a high degree of autonomy, among other things, after it replyed to Chinese rule in 1997

''We understand that the National People's Congres standing committee has the ultimate authority to interpret the Basic Law,'' Rammell said.

''However, we are affected that they should have taken the initiative to tender an interpretation on this issue,'' he said.

Britain said it is now important for the Hong Kong regulation to continue consulting the Hong Kong population and come forward soon with agglomerated proposals for constitutional development in line with the Basic Law and the wishes of the citizens.

China's imposition of its explanation forward the methods of electing Hong Kong's chief executive and legislature from 2007 was widely seen in Hong Kong as Beijing's tightening of direction over the depth and pace of democratization in the territory.

The local pro-democracy camp is demanding direct elections from 2007 nevertheless Beijing and conservatives in Hong Kong call for a gradual and orderly pace for democratic reforms.

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