Central authorities on Friday rebuffed proposals for a "referendum" into how the Hong Kong chief executive is elected, saying any form of so-called "referendum" in Hong Kong would not have constitutional grounds, thus being illegal and invalid.

A group of people in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) launched a campaign for the so called "referendum" earlier on Friday, which the central authorities will pay "serious attention to", according to a statement issued by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.

The statement says, the election procedure proposed is not in line with the universal suffrage method determined by the Basic Law of the HKSAR and the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

The HKSAR, being a local administrative area of China, has no right to adopt a "referendum" by itself, or launch "referendum" activities, according to the statement.

Principles and procedures concerning the universal suffrage of HK chief executives and the Legislative Council have already been clearly communicated in the Basic Law of the HKSAR and relevant decisions made by the National People's Congress Standing Committee, according to the statement.

At present, the HKSAR government is promoting the realization of universal suffrage of its chief executive in 2017 according to law, it noted.

All communities in the region had their voices heard during the five-month public consultation on the election method, and a great deal of consensus was made.

Common ground includes that the chief executive will be elected by universal suffrage, that the universal suffrage must be advanced according to law, that HKSAR chief executive must be a person who loves the country and Hong Kong, and the "public nomination of candidates" runs counter to the Basic Law.

The consensus has laid a solid foundation for the realization of electing the HKSAR chief executive by universal suffrage characterized by "one person, one vote", the statement said.

Further, it accused those who launched the "referendum" campaign for merely doing so out of selfish interests, and drumming up public attention for "Occupy Central", a movement to block the city's central business district, it said.

However, such a political farce, which demonstrated indifference and obstruction to Hong Kong citizens' pursuit of universal suffrage, will not waver the central government's sincerity and determination to promote Hong Kong's democracy. the statement said.

The State Council Information Office published a white paper last week, titled "The Practice of the 'One Country, Two Systems' Policy in the HKSAR".

According to the document, the central government is committed to reaching the ultimate aims that the chief executive is elected by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee and all members of the Legislative Council are elected by universal suffrage.

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