Central govt calls for legal expression of appeals in HK

Workers clean the main Nathan Road at Mongkok shopping district, after police cleared a protest site which has occupied the street for weeks, in Hong Kong, November 26, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING - China's State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office called for peaceful and legal expression of appeals on Tuesday, saying they are aware of the opinions of several social circles in Hong Kong regarding constitutional development.

The remarks came after the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) submitted a report on the recent social and political conditions in the SAR to the office on Tuesday. .

"Hong Kong is a society ruled by law," the spokesperson said, "All people should express their appeals in a peaceful and legal way to safeguard this core value."

It's inadvisable to express appeals in ways that impair rule of law or disrupt normal social order, the spokesperson said.

The State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office has noticed recent development and changes in HKSAR, according to the spokesperson, who said it is appropriate to report to the central government on HKSAR's situations because of the chief executive's responsibility to the Basic Law.

"We hope all circles in Hong Kong can engage in rational and pragmatic discussions and build consensus within the boundaries of the Basic Law and decisions adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, so as to realize universal suffrage in the election of the region's chief executive as scheduled," the spokesperson said.