Sincerity to implement universal suffrage in HK will never change: senior Chinese official

Zhang Xiaoming, head of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong, said here on Wednesday that the central authority's sincerity to implement universal suffrage in 2017 chief executive election will never change.

Addressing the 2015 Spring Festival Reception hosted by the liaison office, Zhang reiterated that the central authority will never shake in its sincerity to implement universal suffrage for chief executive election in 2017, in its stand to demand that the methods of universal suffrage should conform to the stipulations of the Basic Law and the decisions of the NPC Standing Committee, and in its principle to secure that the chief executive should be a Hong Kong citizen who loves the motherland and loves Hong Kong.

"There is no denying that the illegal 'Occupy Central' movement last year had brought deep wound to Hong Kong society. However, as the saying goes that 'bad things could be turned to good account,' we are pleased to see that recently Hong Kong society has started rethink and self-examination over this event and the people have deepened their understanding to some extent," Zhang said.

He elaborated that the "one country, two systems" principle should be understood and implemented in an all-round way, Hong Kong's advantage of rule of law should be well cherished, Hong Kong's young people deserve more love and care and efforts should be made in a more active way to seek Hong Kong's greater development backed by the nation's development trend.

Zhang said the most fundamental thing to rethink the "Occupy Central" movement is to think how to properly handle the relationship between the Hong Kong SAR and the central authority as well as the country.

"We could not allow any attempt to reject the central authority 's jurisdiction over Hong Kong under the pretext of a high degree of autonomy, to advocate 'Hong Kong independence,' or even to overtly confront with the central government through illegal ways. "

"Rule of law is the cornerstone of Hong Kong's stability and prosperity," Zhang said. "One of the lessons we should draw from the 'Occupy Central' movement is that rule of law sometimes could become very fragile. It has again warned people that rule of law, including its fairness and inflexibility, should be carefully cherished and maintained."

Talking about Hong Kong's young people, Zhang said the whole society should pay more attention to and help them overcome their practical difficulties, create better conditions and more opportunities for their growth and development.

He added the young people of Hong Kong will also become builders of the country, so their vision and room for development should not be confined only within Hong Kong.

Priority should be given to the history, culture and national conditions of China in the education of the young people so that they could fully understand that the destiny and future of Hong Kong are closely connected to those of the motherland, he noted.

"It is an irresistible trend for Hong Kong to enhance cooperation and exchange with the mainland for common development through complementing each other with their own advantages," Zhang said.

"The central government is always and will continue to spare no effort to support Hong Kong to keep its systematic characteristics and advantage of internationalization, improve its competitive edge and play a unique role in the nation's reform, opening up and modernization process. This is not only in line with the interests of Hong Kong, but also the needs of the nation's overall development strategy."

"Currently, we are only one step away from realizing the goal of electing Hong Kong's chief executive by 'one person, one vote.' This might be a difficult leap, but it will be a historic one for sure," he said.

About 4,000 guests from different sectors including former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, representatives of the state-owned enterprises and foreign consulates in Hong Kong attended the reception. Endi