HONG KONG, Mar 9 (AP) -- Hong Kong fired back Thursday at U.S. criticism of the territory's political system, denying that it diminished its own autonomy by asking Beijing to interpret its law, and pledging to implement democracy eventually.

Hong Kong was responding to a U.S. State Department report that criticized Hong Kong's political system and its controversial decision to settle a constitutional dispute by consulting Beijing.

The annual report on global human rights on Wednesday said that this Chinese territory's basic law, known locally as its mini constitution, "substantially limits the ability of the legislature" to influence policy.

The report noted that the basic law bars the 60-seat legislature from introducing bills that would affect important matters like political structure or government operations.

The complaint about the basic law is often voiced by lawmakers who are pushing for full democracy in this former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Hong Kong is governed under a "one country, two systems" formula designed to allow the city to have a wide-degree of autonomy from mainland China.

Hong Kong's leader is picked by an 800-member committee, and only half of the legislature is directly elected. The government and Beijing have said that Hong Kong will enjoy full democracy when it's ready for it. No date has been given.

Hong Kong's government released a statement about the U.S. report on Thursday, reaffirming its commitment to full democracy.

"Both the central authorities (in Beijing) and the government were fully committed to promoting constitutional development in accordance with the basic law, with a view to achieving the ultimate aim of universal suffrage," the statement said.

The statement also defended the government's decision to ask Beijing to settle a dispute last year over the term length for Hong Kong's leader, or chief executive.

The controversy developed when Tung Chee-hwa resigned as chief executive citing failing health. Before Tung quit, the government's legal experts had said that if the chief executive left early, the next leader would get a full five-year term.

But after Tung announced his departure, the government flip-flopped on the issue, saying Tung's successor would only serve the remaining two years of his term. Many thought the government had caved in to pressure from Beijing, which allegedly preferred the short term as a form of political probation.

Hong Kong asked a special committee within China's legislature to exercise its power to interpret the city's basic law. But many legal experts thought the interpretation was unnecessary and amounted to meddling in Hong Kong's legal system.

The U.S. report said the interpretation "raised questions about the central government's commitment to the rule of law in Hong Kong and respect for Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy."

The government's statement on Thursday said that the Beijing committee has the power to interpret Hong Kong's basic law.

"The exercise of that power ... has not and could not have in any way affected the independence of the Judiciary, the rule of law or, generally, Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy," the statement said.