No change to 'one country, two systems'

BEIJING - The spokeswoman for China's national legislative session on Monday denied speculation that the central government is "tightening up" control over Hong Kong.

China's central government sticks to the principle of "one country, two systems," said Fu Ying, the newly-appointed spokeswoman for the first session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), at a press conference here.

Policies under the "one country, two systems" principle are highly stable and will be implemented as they have always been, Fu said.

Since the return of Hong Kong to the motherland, the policies have proven to be successful and should not be changed, she said, adding that the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) should be strictly followed.

As one channel for resolving some problems between the mainland and Hong Kong, the Court of Final Appeal of the Hong Kong SAR has the right to ask the NPC Standing Committee to explain the Basic Law, she said.

"This will not affect the judical independence of Hong Kong."