China's top legislature has decided to give interpretations on two Basic Law annexes so as to "put an end to confusions and differences" surrounding the current debate over Hong Kong's political reform.

It will be the first time for the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to take the initiative to give interpretations, a move seen as "imperative".

The two annexes concern the methods for the selection of the chief executive and formation of the Legislative Council after 2007.

"The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress will deliberate the draft of interpretations on Article 7 of Annex I and Article 3 of Annex II of the Basic Law in a meeting from April 2 to 6," a Xinhua report said on Friday.

The schedule was set after a meeting of the standing committee chairman and vice-chairmen held in Beijing on Friday.

"In interpreting relevant clauses of the Basic Law, the standing committee aims to put an end to confusions and differences and further push forward comprehensive implementation of the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle and the Basic Law," said a signed article published by Xinhua on Friday.

"It is an imperative move for administering Hong Kong in accordance with the law," it added.

The meeting decided that the draft will also be presented to the Committee for the Basic Law of HKSAR under the NPC Standing Committee for consultation in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Basic Law.

"Constitutional development concerns the relationship between the central government and Hong Kong SAR as well as the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. It is not an issue that the SAR could fully handle on its own," Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said on Friday night at an urgently convened press conference.

He said it is "a good thing" for the country's top legislature to give the interpretations, and "the sooner the better".

"It will put an end to the acute disputes, provide a clue for the SAR to resolve such a serious problem and provide a firm basis for the work ahead of us," he said.

He added that the interpretation plan is totally legal and will not undermine Hong Kong's autonomy.

At Tung's request, the NPC Standing Committee will first meet with the Task Force on Constitutional Development, headed by Chief Secretary Donald Tsang, on March 30.

On the same occasion, Tsang noted that changes made to the selection methods of the chief executive and the legislature is not within the "high degree of autonomy" that Hong Kong enjoys.

"The central government has always had the authority and responsibility to examine the issue and make the final decision, which Hong Kong must comply with," he said.

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong said in a statement on Friday night that the NPC decision will be "conducive to Hong Kong's stability and unity and conforms to the interests of Hong Kong citizens".

The Hong Kong Progressive Alliance said the interpretations would help all sectors of society reach consensus on constitutional development.

The Liberal Party expressed the hope that disputes over political reform could come to an end now that the NPC has decided to step in.

But the Democratic Party dubbed the NPC decision as "high-pressured" and "unwise" and asked the top legislature not to use its power of interpretation randomly.

(HK Edition 03/27/2004 page1)