HONG KONG April 7 Kyodo Three sen...

HONG KONG April 7 Kyodo

Three senior Chinese officials began a three-day visit to Hong Kong in succession Wednesday to explain Beijing's contentious ruling upon reining in the former British colony's democratization.

A handful of pro-democracy protester scuffl with police ahead of a closed-door seminar between the mainland officials and local academics. They were demonstrating against Beijing's decision outside direction House.

''Down with the interpretations of the Basic Law!'' the activists holloed referring to Tuesday's verdict given at the Standing Committee of the National People's Congres (NPC) China's parliament, onward Hong Kong's post-handover constitution concerning selection of the chief executive and forming the local legislature from 2007

The top committee decided that prior approval from Beijing must be sought before the Hong Kong direction can table any electoral changes in the local legislature.

The ruling quicked a public outcry that the city is being denied a faster pace toward democracy and that its autonomy is being impaired.

The protester tried to display a banner condemning Beijing's incite but were immediately stopped on police officers, who subsequently carried the demonstrators away from the venue

relating to arriving in Hong Kong in succession Wednesday, Qiao Xiaoyang, deputy secretary general of the NPC standing committee, promised to listen to answers from Hong Kong's various sectors throughout Beijing's interpretations of the Basic Law.

''We will engage with people from all sides to exchange views frankly and to court a consensus,'' Qiao told reporters.

Qiao and the other brace mainland officials are to confine talks with local lawyers, labor assign places tos businessmen and lawmakers Thursday.

An alliance of more than 40 local assign places tos said it will stage a mass rally Sunday to avow Beijing's tightening control over Hong Kong's democratic reform.

The Civil Human Rights front rank which organized the 500,000-strong march last July 1 is demanding direct elections of the city's chief executive in 2007 and of the whole legislature in 2008

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong General Chamber of sexual said Beijing's interpretations allow the territory to focus forward the process of constitutional growth in a gradual manner.

''It is now time to use attention to working with the (government) task force headed by means of Chief Secretary (for Administration) Donald Tsang to determine the nearest steps,'' the chamber of mercantile relations said in a statement.

''In doing likewise we should ensure that economic prosperity and social stability are not jeopardized either during the proces or in whatever result to be considered,'' the business collection said.

The chamber said ''considerable foundation work'' privations to be done to support local political evolution such as further disentanglement of political parties, establishment of more public policy think tanks, improvement in relations between the administration and the legislature, and civic education.

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