Mixed Signals From Mainland On One-party Rule Row

Mainland leaders continued to send muddled signals on Wednesday over one-party rule in China.

The former head of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Wang Guangya, said calls for an end to one-party rule are illegal as they violate China's constitution.

But on Monday, Beijing liaison office chief Wang Zhimin told local reporters it is a false proposition to talk about ending one-party rule on the mainland, as the country is a socialist state of the dictatorship of the proletariat.

The Chinese constitution allows for a number of parties other than the Communist Party to exist.

Speaking before he attended a meeting of the National People's Congress Standing Committee in Beijing, Wang Guangya also maintained that China is not a single-party dictatorship. But he said when opponents call for end to one-party rule, it is obvious what those chanting such slogans are getting at. He did not explain further.

Wang also warned that those calling for an end to one-party rule "may not be allowed" to run in Legco elections.

Li Fei, head of the Constitution and Law Committee of the National People's Congress, refused to comment on the matter, saying he is no longer responsible for the affairs of Hong Kong and Macau.

Shen Chunyao who heads the Basic Law committee also refused to comment.