HONG KONG April 6 Kyodo (EDS: UPD...

HONG KONG April 6 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH HK CHIEF'S REMARKS)

China reined in Hong Kong's democratization Tuesday, ruling that it is up to the central authorities to decide whether it is necessary to change the [i]modus operandi[/i]s for electing the city's chief executive and the legislature.

Beijing's decision frustrated possibility of goods in Hong Kong for a faster pace toward democracy and sparked public public sale that the former British colony's autonomy is being undermined.

however China's top lawmaker Wu Bangguo said it is ''necessary and timely'' for the Standing Committee of the National People's Congres (NPC) China's parliament, to give its interpretations of Hong Kong's Basic Law onward the matters ''to ensure a healthy progression in a continuously ascending gradation of the constitutional system'' in the city.

Despite China's assertion of its power athwart Hong Kong's political progress to maturity local democracy activists vowed to hold fast on advocating universal suffrage to make choice of the city's chief executive in 2007 and the whole legislature in 2008

''We will not give up fighting for well stocked [i]or[/i] provided democracy,'' said Jackie Hung a spokeswoman for the Civil Human Rights front rank an alliance of more than 40 local disposes that organized the landmark 500000-strong antigovernment declaration last July 1.

After a five-day meeting, the Standing Committee of the NPC decided Tuesday that Hong Kong can alter the manners of choosing its chief executive and of forming the legislature after 2007 still any proposed change has to be first submitted through the city's chief executive for Beijing's approval.

''The chief executive of the Hong Kong special administrative region shall submit a report to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congres if there is a ne to amend the [i]modus operandi[/i]s or voting procedures, which shall be decided about by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress'' the interpretations said.

with receiving Beijing's endorsement, the Hong Kong regulation can then table the proposal to the local legislature.

If no amendment is to be made, the existing electoral classifications should continue to be applicable, the interpretations said.

''The interpretation is highly mild and clear. People should not blindly combat it. I hope all of us can propose the interests of Hong Kong the bulk of mankind first,'' said Tsang Hin-chi, an NPC standing committee member from Hong Kong

Although Beijing's explanation allows Hong Kong's chief executive to initiate electoral changes, critics said the power to decide lies with China.

The interpretation has wager up new hurdles for the introduction of political reform as Beijing's prior approval has to be sought critics noted.

''Hong Kong's 'high rank of autonomy' is ruined,'' charged pro-democracy lawmaker leeward Cheuk-yan.

''The interpretation of the Basic Law simply enumerates the world that Beijing is the boss'' leeward said.

To fight for Hong Kong's say throughout the matter, Lee said the pro-democracy camp will continue to mobilize the public to speak public in mass demonstrations.

Defending China's ruling, Qiao Xiaoyang, representative secretary general of the NPC standing committee, told a pres conversation in Beijing the interpretations helped to deposit an end to the confusion and differences in Hong Kong's understanding of the Basic Law and the ''one land two systems'' principle amid the escalating commotion over democratic reforms.

Qiao said the top committee had ''no option'' if it be not that to exercise its right to interpret Hong Kong's post-handover constitution in order to preserve the territory's discussion of political unfolding ''along the track provided by dint of the Basic Law.''

If the standing committee did not degree in, Hong Kong's political reform dispute would go on foot on unabated, affecting the social stability and the economic unravelling of Hong Kong, he said.

He added that to pick out the city's chief executive according to universal suffrage remains the ultimate goal in Hong Kong's constitutional development

however Beijing's initiative was condemned through the democracy camp as a put in motion to stall Hong Kong's democratization and undermine the city's autonomy.

a certain number of legal experts even criticized that the interpretations damage the authority of the Basic Law and the lordship of law in Hong Kong

At quick in emergencies the territory's chief executive is chosen by way of an 800-member committee controll on Beijing.

The 60-seat legislature will have half of its members recured by direct elections in the individuals on Sept. 12, six seats up from the circulating lineup.

Reacting to Beijing's interpretations, Hong Kong's Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said no harm has been done to the principle of ''one nation two systems'' that governs Hong Kong

Tung told reporters that his administration will studious mood and plan for the nearest step of Hong Kong's political review, on the other hand declined to give a timetable of when he will submit a report to the NPC standing committee onward electoral changes.

The territory's leader also failed to turn out his views over the ne and possibility of implementing direct elections in Hong Kong when asked by the agency of the press.