Asked to comment on Sunday's election in the Hong Kong special administrative region (SAR), and the resounding victory of some pro-democracy parties, foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said the elections were held smoothly. This was the first election here under Chinese sovereignty.

``On the question of increasing the pace of democratisation in Hong Kong, there are clear provisions in the Hong Kong basic law,'' Zhu said.Hong Kong's basic law (mini constitution), approved by China, says the territory, now a special administrative region of China, will have a phased programme of democratisation, with half of the legislature to be popularly elected in 2004.

In Sunday's polls to the 60-member legislative council (Legco), only 20 seats were decided by popular vote, based on geographical constituencies.

Hong Kong'spro-democracy parties won 15 seats out of the 20. They urged Beijing to speed up democratisation in Hong Kong, a leading financial hub in the world. Of the remaining 40 seats in Legco, 30 were decided by professionals which meant less than 140,000 people out of the 2.8 million registered voters were allowed to exercise their right to vote.

The rest of the 10 seats were elected by a largely pro-Beijing 800-member election committee. Thus, Beijing has ensured that the 60-member Legco is dominated by pro-China legislators.

The spokesman also hoped that elected members to the Legco will ``observe the concept of one country, two systems'' and adhere to the basic law while carrying out their duties.

Hong Kong returned to China on July 1, 1997 and China agreed not to change its political or economic system for 50 years. Chinese premier Zhu Rongji today said his country would like to forge bilateral friendship and cooperation with its neighbours according to the five principles of peacefulco-existence.

``Such a policy forms an important part of China's efforts,'' Zhu said in an obvious reference to India's recent statements reiterating New Delhi's desire to have good relations with China.

At a meeting here with the visiting Sri Lankan foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, Zhu said that China will, as always, develop friendly and cooperative relations.