The principle of One Country, Two Systems has been successfully implemented in Hong Kong and its people are capable of dealing with their own affairs, Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa says at a meeting with a US Congressional delegation.

The delegation, led by House Committee on International Relations Chairman Henry Hyde, met Mr Tung today. They exchanged views on Hong Kong's latest developments and economic and trade relations between the city and the US.

HK enjoys unprecedented democracy

On constitutional development, Mr Tung said Hong Kong citizens have enjoyed unprecedented democracy since reunification in 1997.

"Hong Kong's political structure is developing under the principle of gradual and orderly progress and moving towards the ultimate aim of universal suffrage, in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law and the decision made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress."

He said that as part of China, Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy under the Basic Law, but it has to respect the constitutional order and relationship between the Central Authorities and the Special Administrative Region as stipulated in the Basic Law.

"Hong Kong's democratic development has made substantial progress since reunification. The number of directly elected seats of the Legislative Council has increased from 20 in 1998 to 30 this year," Mr Tung said.

Mainland's status rising

Mr Tung also discussed Mainland developments.

"Chinese state leaders have repeatedly said in public that the Government would hold fast to the principle of maintaining world peace and promoting common development as well as playing the role of a responsible leading country in the international arena," he said.