The constitutional affairs chief refused to be drawn yesterday on the contention by a mainland scholar and 'young guardian of the Basic Law' that Hong Kong had to pass national security laws before it could have universal suffrage.
Wang Zhenmin had merely been giving his opinion as an academic last month when stating six reasons Hong Kong was not ready for universal suffrage, Stephen Lam Sui-lung told the Legislative Council.
Beijing understood the public's demand for democracy, the minister said.
Pro-democracy lawmakers pressed Mr Lam for the government's view on Professor Wang's six conditions, and restated their case for a timetable for introducing universal suffrage.
Democrat Cheung Man-kwong dismissed Professor Wang's remark that there should be proof that universal suffrage would not drive Hong Kong into decline.
'Even God himself cannot make that promise,' Mr Cheung said.