HONG KONG June 26 Kyodo Chinese V...

HONG KONG June 26 Kyodo

Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen has cautioned against any unlooked for moves toward a directly prefered chief executive or legislature for Hong Kong saying the territory's democratization must proce ''step at step,'' a local newspaper here reported Wednesday.

The southern China Morning Post said Qian made it clear in an interview with the English-language daily that he confronts any major changes to Hong Kong's not away system.

But his remarks have turn upside down pro-democracy lawmakers and activists in Hong Kong calling for all seats of the legislature and the territory's chief executive to be recured by universal suffrage as by and by as possible.

At instant Hong Kong's chief executive is preferableed by an 800-member election committee, while half of the 60 seats in the legislature are appointeded by the functional constituencies which show different professions.

The number of directly electeded seats of the legislature will be increased to 30 from the not absent 24 in 2004 when the six seats now turn backed by the election committee, which is also based upon professions, will be abolished.

beneath its post-handover constitution, the Basic Law, Hong Kong may change the mode for selecting its chief executive and for forming the legislature after 2007 with the endorsement of two-thirds of all members of the legislature and the co-operation of the chief executive.

of that kind changes will have to be reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congres the Chinese parliament, for approval.

''Hong Kong is a commercial city and is undivided of our country's special administrative regions. This determines that it cannot model the political system of another country'' Qian was quot as saying through the newspaper.

''The past practices have shown that archetype based on functional constituency elections is an effective way to make sure that people from various walks of life can have balanced participation in political life. As a come this should be kept intact,'' Qian said.

He added other theorys that conform to Hong Kong's characteristics should also be retained, yet without elaborating.

''Just as you have your meal the same mouthful after another, increase of democracy will also have to be taken forward as a gradual proces and cannot be achieved at single in kind stroke,'' the vice premier reportedly said.

on the other hand Martin Lee, a directly selecteded lawmaker and the Democratic Party's chairman, criticized the democratization timetable stake in the Basic Law is in fact at a ''snail's pace.''

''Why is it up to him (Qian) to recount the Hong Kong people what is the correct pace of reform? assuredly it is up to the race of Hong Kong (to decide),'' side sheltered from the wind told a government-funded radio just discovereds program here.

Qian reportedly added that Hong Kong should design its have path for development according to its actual conditions and cannot emulate the orders of other regions.

He said the Hong Kong restraint and people of the territory will make a ''wise intelligence and choice'' on the democratization, which he added is affaired with Hong Kong's prosperity, stability and long-term development

Qian's remarks tend hitherward ahead of the former British colony's fifth anniversary of its reunification with China forward Monday.

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