[Concurrent] Tang Jiahua, Senior Counsel and Executive Council Member of Hong Kong
Because this (Patriot Governance) is recognized throughout the world as the most basic element in the governance structure of any country or place, I can hardly imagine any country or place in this world whose governance structure will Allow some people who deliberately undermine this political system or constitutional order to enter this governance structure.
[Commentary] A few days ago, Hong Kong Senior Counsel and Executive Council member Tang Jiahua accepted an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Agency.
Speaking of the "Decision of the National People's Congress on Improving the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Electoral System" approved by the Fourth Session of the Thirteenth National People's Congress just concluded, he said that the principle of "patriots ruling Hong Kong" will be fully implemented and the Hong Kong election system will be improved. It is a crucial step for the stability and long-term development of "One Country, Two Systems" in Hong Kong.
[Concurrent] Tang Jiahua, Senior Counsel and Executive Council Member of Hong Kong
If you want to enter this governance structure, you must agree with, accept, and support the national system and political system behind this structure. If you do not agree, and you deliberately step into this governance structure to destroy it , Even to subvert the government, or to destroy this political system, that is, Hong Kong’s "one country, two systems".
I don't see why this system should allow you to abuse your right to participate in elections.
Especially in the so-called "Ten Steps for Speculation" last year (2020).
In fact, if our electoral system does not change, there is a real chance that this "speculation" result will appear.
[Explanation] Tang Jiahua said that in the current governance structure of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, there are indeed some things that do not conform to the original intent of the Basic Law.
For example, the excessive status of district boards in the governance structure and their excessive political influence are one of them.
He pointed out that the district councils have fairly clear regulations under Article 97 of the Basic Law, that is, the district councils are a consultative framework for district services and their political power should not be separated from local work.
However, as far as the current situation is concerned, the District Council has six seats in the Legislative Council and 117 votes in the Chief Executive Election Committee. This has seriously exceeded the legal interpretation of the Basic Law and should be adjusted in due course.
[Concurrent] Tang Jiahua, Senior Counsel and Executive Council Member of Hong Kong
The political power of district councils should not be divorced from regional work, nor should they be a political institution.
If you look around other political institutions, the district councils actually have the greatest political power. This seems to be contrary to Article 97 of the Basic Law.
If the central government believes that we need to correct the source and bring the political status of district councils back to the original intention of Article 97 of the Basic Law, it is obviously possible to deal with the current seats of district councils in the Legislative Council and the number of votes in the election committee.
[Explanation] Regarding the question of whether the reform of the electoral system will tighten the space for some people to participate in elections, Tang Jiahua said that it depends on the original intention of the candidates to participate in politics.
One of the main purposes of this reform of the electoral system is to prevent some people who deliberately undermine the "one country, two systems" from entering Hong Kong's governance structure.
[Concurrent] Tang Jiahua, Senior Counsel and Executive Council Member of Hong Kong
So for now, whether or not there is a tightening of the space for certain people to participate in elections depends on what they are participating in politics for and what they are involved in.
If his participation in politics is patriotic and loves Hong Kong, I think this is totally fine and will not hinder them from participating in politics, but if his participation in politics is to disrupt the "one country, two systems", then I'm sorry, The purpose is to prevent them from having the opportunity to enter our governance structure.
[Explanation] Regarding foreign media's exaggeration that reforming the electoral system may affect the democratic election process in Hong Kong, Tang Jiahua does not agree with this. He believes that there is no conflict between the two.
[Concurrent] Tang Jiahua, Senior Counsel and Executive Council Member of Hong Kong
I hope everyone will understand that this measure has nothing to do with the development of democracy in Hong Kong.
If you want to develop democracy, everyone must first agree with your national concept, your political system, and your basic purpose.
Under a stable political system that everyone agrees with, increasing democratic representatives or democratic participation is the true meaning of democracy.
But if our political system is fundamentally unstable, and some people are thinking about how to destroy this political system and how to subvert this government every day, in fact, it is completely meaningless to talk about the development of democracy, and there will be no good results come out.
Reporter Fan Siyi and Li Yue reporting from Hong Kong
Editor in charge: 【Luo Pan】