The Government has refuted former governor Chris Patten's suggestion the National People’s Congress Standing Committee has no role to play in Hong Kong’s constitutional development.
It made the statement today in response to Lord Patten's remarks at the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China.
The constitutional roles of the Standing Committee, the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council in the process to attain universal suffrage in Hong Kong are clearly laid down in the Basic Law, which is the one and only basis for Hong Kong's constitutional development, the statement said.
Foreign governments and legislatures should not interfere in Hong Kong’s constitutional development, which is an internal matter for the city, and also for China, it added.
The Government has been liaising with various sectors of the community, including an open dialogue with the Federation of Students on October 21, to forge consensus and bring forward the constitutional process.
It appealed to all sectors of the community to express views in a peaceful manner and cease all illegal activities.
