National security should be taken into account in HK

The central government's representative in Hong Kong says political reform in the city is not only in the interest of different classes locally, it is also a matter of national security.

Director of the Central Government Liaison Office in Hong Kong Zhang Xiaoming says the general election of Hong Kong's chief executive will be a ground-breaking event, and national security must be taken into account.

"Some international forces are doing everything to contain China's development, and continue to make trouble. A small number of people are inter-twining with external forces to stir up events in Hong Kong. We have to prevent the city from becoming a base against the mainland under the facade of democracy."

He stresses that central government policies toward Hong Kong will remain unchanged even if reforms cannot proceed in time for the 2017 chief executive election.

"Even if the political reform plan cannot be passed, and no matter how great the difficulties in the process, the central government's determination and will to carry out the 'One Country, Two Systems' strategy will not waver."

Meanwhile, the Anti-Occupy Central campaign launched last month is gathering increasing support. More than 1 million signatures have been collected, showing tremendous support for a peaceful transition to universal suffrage and the election of the new Hong Kong chief executive in 2017.

The petition comes after thousands, as part of the Occupy Central movement, threatened to occupy Hong Kong's financial district, to demand all candidates of the election be nominated publicly.

According to the city's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, candidates for the city's leader should be nominated by a "broadly representative" nomination committee.

A financial research institute has estimated direct losses at 5 billion Hong Kong dollars if a protest in the Central district lasts for three days, and many locals worry about the movement's negative impact on Hong Kong's economy and stability.