The interpretation of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by the NationalPeople's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee will not affect the democratization of Hong Kong, but will facilitate its development within the framework of the Basic Law, a central official said here Thursday.

    Deputy Secretary-General of the NPC Standing Committee Qiao Xiaoyang called for rational discussion, constructive interaction and frank exchange for reaching a consensus on Hong Kong's constitutional development, while addressing here some 500 participants in a seminar on the Basic Law interpretation.

    Qiao said as Hong Kong is a pluralistic society having very different understanding of and views on various issues, it is necessary for the NPC Standing Committee to interpret the Basic Law to ensure the special administrative region's constitutional development.

    The official also noted that he cannot rule out the possibilityof future interpretation because the standing committee is empowered by the constitution to do so. Moreover, the standing committee has constitutional responsibilities, he pointed out.

    On the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, Qiao said "One Country" is the premise in the governance of Hong Kong. The central government has jurisdiction over matters involving its relationship with Hong Kong, including constitutional development.

    Hong Kong's Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang told the seminar that the Constitutional Development Task Force which he heads will submit its second report on Hong Kong's constitutional development in mid-April in the hope of helping Chief Executive of the HKSAR Tung Chee Hwa draft his report to thecentral authority in this regard.