BEIJING, Oct. 23  -- A newspaper commentary warned that the "Occupy Central" movement in Hong Kong is actually impeding the region's democratic development.

By resorting to the extreme "occupy" measures to hijack Hong Kong public opinion and express their own views, the illegal movement is running counter to legal procedures and the democratic spirit, said a commentary carried by Thursday's People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China.

"Without the rule of law, so-called 'democracy' may be led astray into peril," the commentary said.

The commentary said that the occupy movement has deviated from the Basic Law and other laws of Hong Kong and the "civil nomination" concept proposed by the organizers is a breach of the framework of the "One Country, Two Systems" policy.

Their appeals and activities are also contrary to the mainstream opinion among Hong Kong citizens and seriously impacts social order in Hong Kong, according to the commentary.

"The organizers' attempt to arouse social conflict and incite illegal activities under the name of election issues will definitely undermine the cornerstone of Hong Kong's democracy and rule of law. The movement is actually impeding the realization of universal suffrage in Hong Kong, thwarting the region's democratic development," the commentary said.

The article noted that after Hong Kong's return to the motherland in 1997, the region's democracy has continued to progress under the support of the central government.

It said the democratic progress in Hong Kong after its return has been "unprecedented" and stressed that only with legal, rational, practical and progressive measures to promote democracy can the region maintain its stability and prosperity.