China won't elect Hong Kong delegates to Parliament: Govt

China has no plans to allow direct election of delegates from Hong Kong to the national parliament, a government spokesman has said.

China has no plans to allow direct election of delegates from Hong Kong to the national parliament, a government spokesman said on Saturday.

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"There is no plan to change the current method for electing NPC deputies in Hong Kong," said Jiang Enzhu, a spokesman for the National People's Congress, the country's ceremonial legislature.

Political activists in Hong Kong have been pushing for a change to the current system of indirect appointment of the territory's delegates to the powerless, but high-profile parliament.

China allows direct, nonpartisan elections to its lowest-level village and township offices. But candidates for all other posts, including delegates to parliament, are appointed by the Communist Party-controlled government.