The legislative procedure of Article 23 of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is "democratic and transparent," and its enactment will not restrict the legal rights of Hong Kong people, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing Tuesday.

"Legislation of the ordinance is China's internal affair. We do not accept the casual opinions of officials from some countries about it," he said at a press conference.

While examining the draft ordinance concerning national security, the HKSAR Legislative Council had solicited public opinion in an in-depth manner, he said.

The ordinance, which is intended to safeguard national security and unity, upheld the principle of safeguarding Hong Kong residents' rights and freedoms on the basis of the Basic Law and conformed with regulations on the application of two international human rights conventions to Hong Kong, he said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was visiting Hong Kong on the sixth anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China and attended the ceremony for the signing of the Mainland-Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, Kong said.

Hong Kong had made significant achievements since its return to China, and the "one China, two systems" concept had proved successful, he said.

The development of Hong Kong contributed greatly to the construction, reform and opening-up of the Chinese mainland, while the development of the mainland also served to reinforce Hong Kong's stability and prosperity, he said.

"Hong Kong belongs to China and to the Hong Kong people," Kong said. "We hope Hong Kong will always thrive and its economy will pick up soon."

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2003)