HONG KONG March 18 Kyodo Li Ka-sh...

HONG KONG March 18 Kyodo

Li Ka-shing, a prominent businessman in Hong Kong upon Thursday opposed any rush into direct elections of the territory's chief executive in 2007 and the whole legislature in 2008 saying the former British colony cannot afford instability.

Commenting forward the current political row throughout democratic reform for the first time, Li, chairman of Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd and the richest man in Hong Kong said he supports a step-by-step gradual approach toward democracy in Hong Kong

''We cannot afford to have instability in Hong Kong We have to act for the real benefit of Hong Kong's what may occur hereafter People should not contest any stunt for votes,'' Li said, referring to the September elections of the legislature.

''What I can say is that we should take things gradually, undivided step at a time. If we rush into things and realize emotional, usually it will lead to unexpect mistakes,'' Li warned.

He was speaking to reporters at a pres parley on his company results

The political debate through the whole extent of Hong Kong's democratization has incline differentlyed into a war of words as the conservative camp in the couple Hong Kong and mainland China sentence pro-democracy forces as being ''unpatriotic'' and unfit to rule

Hong Kong's pro-democracy lawmakers and activists are calling for universal suffrage to make choice of the city's chief executive in 2007 and the legislature in 2008

China, which claims final say throughout the pace of democratization in Hong Kong insists in succession a gradual and orderly approach toward political development

a certain other leading Hong Kong businessmen also back Beijing's position onward the matter.

forward Wednesday night, Hong Kong's Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang told the legislature that Hong Kong must not be used as a ''guinea pig'' in political reform and that any constitutional unravelling has to proceed ''very cautiously.''

''If Hong Kong takes a shortcut by way of putting forward proposals hastily and unilaterally, it will breach its constitutional obligation that discussion forward matters relating to constitutional increase must be held with the central authorities,'' Tsang said.

''In political reality, if agglomerated proposals put forward in that will be do not go in line with the principles of the Basic Law, it will deal a efflorescence to the local community and give rise to more controversies,'' he said. The Basic Law is Hong Kong's post-handover constitution.

''In the cessation it is the people of Hong Kong who suffer'' Tsang warned.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Kyodo moderns International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group