So says a Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau spokesman in response to comments made by lawmaker Cyd Ho Sau-lan.

On RTHK's Letter to Hong Kong yesterday, Ho said political reform proposals, due to be unveiled on Wednesday, will not advance the democratic process.

She said the proposals would be a replica of those made in 2005 and later vetoed.

The bureau spokesman said legislators should not be too quick to declare the government vision of the electoral system in 2012 as not being democratic enough.

"We sincerely hope Legco members will not jump to the conclusion that the government's proposal will not enhance the democratic elements of the electoral system in 2012, even before it has been introduced," the spokesman said.

The focus should be on how the two electoral methods for 2012 may be further democratized at this stage, before universal suffrage in 2017 and 2020.

Ho said the plan to expand the Election Committee for chief executive from 800 to 1,200 members, and the Legco seats from 60 to 70 is a rehash of the defeated 2005 proposal. "The proposal is not a step forward in democratization, because a mere increase in numbers to expand the Election Committee and the Legco does not give more power to people."

Last Saturday, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said the government is sincere in its consultation exercise for constitutional reform, and he hopes the political parties will be rational and maintain an open mind.

Tsang spoke after briefing President Hu Jintao on Hong Kong's economic and political situation during the APEC summit in Singapore.

The government will launch a three-month consultation.

Meanwhile, cooperation between the Judiciary, the executive and legislative branches of the government - as suggested by the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office deputy director Zhang Xiaoming - was not welcomed by guests at RTHK's City Forum.

Zhang's comments last week on cooperation implemented in Macau being "constructive" to society triggered fears among pan-democrats and lawyers in Hong Kong.

Macau legislator Au Kam-san said Macau is far from being a good example for Hong Kong, because the executive-led political system has resulted in a dictatorial executive branch.

Au also claimed that collusion and corruption are widespread problems.

Political commentator Johnny Lau Yui-siu said Beijing has yet to understand the mainstream values in Hong Kong, including separation of powers.

And while the mainland does recognize the judicial independence of Hong Kong, the central government is concerned the Court of Final Appeal may threaten the power of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to interpret the Basic Law, Lau said.

Bar Association vice chairman Paul Shieh Wing-tai said judges do not make judicial review decisions based on their personal preferences or political orientations, and the court only interferes when the government acts beyond its powers and commits unlawful acts