Speaking of the issue of political development in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), former vice-premier Qian Qichen said yesterday that it is important for Hong Kong to remain prosperous and stable.

Since Hong Kong returned to China, the SAR has generally advanced forward in the past seven years, Qian told reporters after attending a symposium in Beijing.

Qian said it was natural for different opinions to be heard in a community like the SAR.

"There're bound to be different opinions and this is only natural," he said. "Generally speaking, the situation is still in good shape. It's very natural (for the community) to have different views."

"The situation now is better than that of past difficult moments. The stock market has gone up and the economy has improved."

Declining to comment on the issue of communications between the "pro-democracy" camp in Hong Kong and the central government, the former vice-premier said that whatever the situation was, the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong must be safeguarded.

In Hong Kong, Executive Councillor Leung Chun-ying said the "pro-democracy" camp was yet to prove with deeds their sincerity in communicating with the central government.

While some members of the camp expressed their wish to communicate, others pointed out that they would continue to shout the slogan of "returning political power to the people" in the march on July 1, Leung said.

In a historic context, the slogan had a meaning that would do nothing good for the relationship between Hong Kong and the central government, Leung said.

He added that the central government was committed to giving the SAR a high degree of autonomy, as provided for by the Basic Law, calling on the community to look forward.

Financial Secretary Henry Tang said the SAR was a free and open society where the freedom of speech, as enjoyed by individuals, was safeguarded by the Basic Law.

Speaking before the Legislative Council's financial affairs panel, Tang said Hong Kong had a sound legal system that was transparent and fair enough to appeal to overseas investors.

Asked if a tense political climate would undermine multi-national companies' interest in investing in Hong Kong, especially in view of the march planned for July 1, Tang said: "Of course, no investors would like to invest in a place where there are endless disputes and arguments."

However, if political discussion was conducted in a constructive and harmonious manner, overseas investors' incentive to come to Hong Kong would be unaffected, he added.

Stamps not political vehicle

In a separate local development, Assistant Postmaster General Kingsley Li of Hong Kong Post explained the decision to reject the proposal of the Civil Human Rights Front (the Front) to issue special stamps to mark the July 1 march.

Li said special stamps were issued to feature a message of love and care or to celebrate an important festive event.

Saying Hong Kong Post did not want to get involved in political issues, Li said the Front's proposal was controversial as different views on the question of universal suffrage were still widely heard in the community.

(HK Edition 06/15/2004 page2)