HONG KONG -- The constitutional development in Hong Kong is entirely an internal affair of China, and foreign governments should respect this principle and should not interfere in any manner, a spokesman of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said here Friday.
The spokesman made the remarks in response to the comments contained in the U.S. Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2014 relating to the HKSAR released Thursday U.S. time.
To attain the ultimate aim of selecting the chief executive by universal suffrage as stipulated in Article 45 of the Hong Kong Basic Law, the HKSAR government presented to the Legislative Council a package of proposals after conducting two rounds of extensive public consultations, the spokesman said.
These proposals are in accordance with the relevant constitutional and legal regime, and are also reasonable and rational, the spokesman said.
In addition, the spokesman said Hong Kong residents enjoy the rights of meeting, procession and demonstration according to the basic law and other relevant laws, and they should therefore conduct such activities in a peaceful and orderly manner without affecting public order.
The policy of the police is to endeavor to strike a balance between facilitating all lawful and peaceful public meetings and processions, and ensuring public order and public safety, the spokesman said, adding the police do not tolerate any unlawful or violent acts and will definitely take resolute enforcement actions in an impartial manner.
The spokesman also said the HKSAR government attaches great importance to Hong Kong's freedom of the press and freedom of speech, which are enshrined in the basic law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance.
These are major elements in sustaining Hong Kong's status as an international metropolis and continuous development, and the HKSAR government will continue to strive to safeguard these core values, the spokesman added.
