>>>Click into Related Special : HK CE By-election

The two meetings to solicit views from Hong Kong personnel from various walks of life on the tenure of the new Hong Kong Chief Executive and the Basic Law interpretation held by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) have won favorable appraisal in Hong Kong.

Deputy Secretary-General of the NPC Standing Committee Qiao Xiaoyang held two meetings with nearly 300 Hong Kong representatives in Shenzhen Thursday, in a bid to solicit views on the tenure of the new Hong Kong Chief Executive through by-election and explain NPC Standing Committee's interpretation on the issue.

Most of the participants to the meetings believed that according to the Constitution and Basic Law of Hong Kong, the NPC Standing Committee is empowered to render an interpretation of the Basic Law.

They said it is lawful and necessary for the meetings of the chairman and vice-chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee to list Basic Law interpretation on the agenda of the meetings of the NPC Standing Committee, according to a motion submitted by the State Council at the request of the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Most Hong Kong residents welcome the NPC Standing Committee's interpretation on the Basic Law. They agree that the law interpretation will benefit the maintenance of Hong Kong's stability.

President of Hong Kong's One Country Two Systems Research Institute Shiu Shin Por said that within the framework of the principle of "One Country, Two Systems," interpreting the Basic Law by the NPC Standing Committee is the only effective way to implement the law interpreting right of the country's top legislature.

He added that as a constitutional law of the HKSAR, the Basic law has rooms for improvement, as it is a pioneering practice.

Benjamin Liu, former judge of Hong Kong's Court of Appeal, said the Basic Law is an unprecedented legal document and it is very difficult to accurately explain the articles simply according to the regulations of the common laws.

Some participants against the law interpretation move also frankly exchanged views with Qiao Xiaoyang face-to-face. Qiao said the aim of the meeting is to solicit views from various walks of life in Hong Kong, including different opinions.

He admitted that it is unrealistic to reach concessus through two meetings but it is a useful communication.

Describing Qiao Xiaoyang as "very friendly," Tam Heung Man, a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council said there are different views about the law interpretation and the meetings are good channels for exchanging of views.

Hong Kong major newspapers have also praised the central authority's efforts to solicit all kinds of views from Hong Kong public, saying the efforts showed the good intentions and sincerity of the central authorities.

Editor: Yan