The "Anti-Secession Law" being drafted by China's top legislature conforms to the fundamental interests of compatriots across the Taiwan Straits as well as the Chinese nation.

It will not only promote cross-Straits relations and peaceful reunification, but help curb the moves of separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence" and maintain peace and stability across the Straits.

Li Guikang, a deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong, said this yesterday at a seminar to mark the tenth anniversary of former president Jiang Zemin's eight-point proposal on solving the Taiwan question.

On January 30, 1995, Jiang delivered a speech of "historic significance" in Beijing - "Continue to Promote the Reunification of the Motherland". Jiang put forward eight major proposals to achieve national reunification. The gist - to uphold the "One-China" principle and oppose "Taiwan independence".

In recent years, Taiwan splittists have been trying to separate the island from China through constitutional transformation, which has seriously undermined the general interests of the local people and harmed cross-Straits relations, said Li.

He reiterated the central government's firm determination to keep Taiwan part of the motherland.

"No one is more willing to solve the Taiwan question through peaceful means than us," Li said. "Yet under no circumstance should we allow for 'Taiwan independence'. We will never allow anyone to use any means to separate Taiwan from China," he stressed.

Representatives from various sectors of the Hong Kong community also spoke highly of Jiang's proposals at the seminar.

They regarded the proposals as guidelines to solve the Taiwan issue under "peaceful reunification" and "One Country, Two Systems".

Secretary for Constitutional Affairs of the Hong Kong government Stephen Lam said the "One Country, Two Systems" principle theory has proven to be a success throughout the seven years since Hong Kong's return to the motherland.

"We will continue to demonstrate to Taiwan Hong Kong's exemplary role for 'One Country, Two Systems."

On Beijing's latest suggestion to reopen talks with Taiwan authorities, Tsang Hin-chi, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said it shows again the mainland's sincerity in dealing with the island.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the national committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said over the weekend that Beijing is ready to talk with Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian as long as he agrees that the two sides of the Straits belong to one China.

"It is up to the Taiwan authorities to decide whether reunification could be achieved through peaceful or non-peaceful means," Tsang said.

(HK Edition 02/01/2005 page2)