The National People's Congress perfects Hong Kong's electoral system, patriotism and Hong Kong support from all walks of life
[Global Times reporter Ling De, Bai Yunyi, Wu Zhiwei, Zhao Juehui, Chen Qingqing] The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress deliberated and approved amendments to Annex I and Annex II of the Hong Kong Basic Law on the 30th, and systematically revised and improved the methods for the formation of the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
This signifies that the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong" has an important institutional guarantee, and Hong Kong is encouraged by all walks of life to love the country and love Hong Kong.
On the same day, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor of the Special Administrative Region stated that improving the electoral system can effectively solve the dilemma of pan-politicization and continuous internal friction in Hong Kong society in recent years, and will help effectively improve the governance efficiency of the Special Administrative Region.
Many recent polls have shown that the majority of Hong Kong citizens support the central government's decision to improve Hong Kong's electoral system.
From the time when Hong Kong’s National Security Law was promulgated last year to stop violence and curb chaos, and now the National People’s Congress once again legislated to fix loopholes in the electoral system, this set of “combined punches” demonstrates the central government’s good intentions and firm determination to improve “one country, two systems”, and Hong Kong’s transition from chaos to governance Also becoming clearer.
Maintaining national security and excluding anti-China chaos in Hong Kong from the SAR's governance structure can be said to be justified and normal.
However, for a period of time, some Western forces have continued to discredit or even impose sanctions and pressure.
Their bluffing cannot shake China's will to safeguard its sovereignty.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized in a statement on the 30th that Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, and any attempt to interfere in Hong Kong affairs and exert pressure on China will never succeed.
Completely plug the election loopholes
The 27th meeting of the 13th National People’s Congress Standing Committee unanimously adopted on the 30th the newly revised “Annex I to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China for the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” and the newly revised “Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China” Annex II to the Basic Law: Methods for Forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Voting Procedures.
President Xi Jinping signed Presidential Decree Nos. 75 and 76 respectively to be announced.
The first change that RTHK has noticed is that the number of members of the Election Committee responsible for the election of the Chief Executive has increased from 1,200 to 1,500, and the former four sectors have been changed to five sectors, each sector 300 people.
Candidates for the Chief Executive must be nominated by no less than 188 members of the Election Committee, and no less than 15 members from each of the five sectors must be nominated.
As for the Legislative Council, the number of members per session has increased to 90, including 40 members elected by the Election Committee, 30 members elected by functional constituencies, and 20 members directly elected by districts.
Previously, the Legislative Council had a total of 70 members, including 35 members elected by functional constituencies and 35 members directly elected by districts.
Fan Peng, a researcher at the Institute of Political Science of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believes that this adjustment means that the Election Committee will play a more important role in Hong Kong's political life.
Hong Kong’s political system, especially the Legislative Council elections, will add more indirect democratic elements, and its system design will be more stable, and it will not be prone to be controlled by small parties or "political veterans ascend to the sky".
At the same time, the voice of some people in the Legislative Council who "sway left and right" and "sets prices with the central government" will also be restricted.
Tan Yaozong, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, told the Global Times reporter on the 30th that according to the new plan, the number of patriotic groups, CPPCC members, and national delegations in the election committee will increase. This adjustment will enable more Patriotic forces participate in the election committee.
In addition, the new plan restores functional groups to elect representatives based on group voters, reflecting the principle of balanced participation in the Basic Law.
The inclusion of more groups from different strata makes the Election Committee cover wider, more representative, and able to take into account the interests of all strata. It is in line with the reality of Hong Kong’s social development and can better maintain Hong Kong’s stability.
In the revised Hong Kong Basic Law, Annex I "Regional Organization Representatives" sub-subsector does not include district council members, and Annex II also abolishes the seats of District Councils (1) and District Councils (2) in the Legislative Council.
Analysts said that the district council is a regional organization in Hong Kong and should perform its duties within the scope stipulated by the Basic Law. However, in recent years, the district council has become a stage for political performances. An important platform for chaotic Hong Kong activities.
According to the new plan, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will set up a Candidate Qualification Review Committee. In the future, whether it is the chief executive, legislator or candidate of the election committee, all candidates must undergo the qualification review of the committee.
The Hong Kong 01 website stated that in this process, the National Security Office of the police is responsible for reviewing the candidates to see if they meet the two major requirements of upholding the Basic Law and allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, which will be determined by the Special Administrative Region National Security Committee chaired by the Chief Executive.
Liu Zhaojia, vice chairman of the National Hong Kong and Macau Research Association, told the Global Times reporter that in all reform rules, the establishment of a candidate qualification review committee is a “top priority” and can be regarded as a “political failure”.
The qualification review committee allows the national security agency to intervene in the investigation and has a very high right to speak.
As long as the committee is responsible for playing a gatekeeper role, it can ensure that domestic and foreign hostile forces cannot get in touch with the SAR's governance power.
Liu Zhaojia described that the relevant amendments made by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress to Hong Kong’s election methods were “decisive and comprehensive” and almost “impermeable”. It should achieve the central government’s four major goals of improving Hong Kong’s electoral system, namely, maintaining national security and fully implementing it. Implement "one country, two systems", implement the principle of "patriots ruling Hong Kong", and prevent hostile forces from inside and outside from interfering with or entering the administrative structure of the SAR.
"Sing Tao Daily" stated that the amendments have completely plugged the loopholes in the election, and the wishful thinking of the "speculators" to seize the governance of the SAR has finally become Nan Ke's dream.
Love the country, love Hong Kong, support from all walks of life
On the afternoon of the 30th, the Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region issued a statement expressing firm support for the National People’s Congress Standing Committee’s adoption of the newly revised Annex I and Annex II of the Basic Law to improve the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s electoral system and establish a system that conforms to the “one country, two systems” system and the reality of Hong Kong Situation and a political system that implements the principle of "patriots ruling Hong Kong".
According to Hong Kong's "Ming Pao" report, Lam Cheng stated at a press conference that he is striving to submit a comprehensive bill to the Legislative Council in mid-April to improve the electoral system. He hopes that the Legislative Council will complete its deliberation and pass the third reading before the end of May this year.
If the Legislative Council passes the relevant bill according to the above-mentioned timetable, the election of the Election Committee will be held in September this year, the general election of the Legislative Council will be held in December this year, and the election of the Chief Executive will be held in March next year.
The Liaison Office of the Hong Kong Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council respectively issued statements on the 30th, emphasizing that they will fully support the SAR government in the revision of relevant local laws.
People from all walks of life who love the country and Hong Kong also expressed their support.
Radio Hong Kong reported that the Legislative Council’s establishment members issued a joint statement in support of the NPC Standing Committee’s approval of the amendments to Annex 1 and Annex 2 of the Basic Law, stating that it is constitutional, legal, reasonable and reasonable to complete the work of improving Hong Kong’s electoral system at the national level.
Hong Kong Legislative Council Chairman Liang Junyan said on the 30th that the improvement of the SAR election system embodies the principle of "balanced participation" in the Basic Law, responds to various concerns of the society, and helps the executive and legislative bodies to cooperate and balance with each other, focusing on dealing with economic and people's livelihood issues.
Hong Kong’s "Bus Daily" reported that the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions stated on the 30th that this revision fully takes into account the actual situation in Hong Kong and can fully implement the principle of "patriots ruling Hong Kong" in the system, and achieve a balance among all classes and sectors. Participation can effectively reflect the voice of the grassroots labor, which is conducive to maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, ensuring the stability and long-term development of "one country, two systems", and improving the political ecology.
According to Hong Kong media reports, a telephone survey conducted by the Hong Kong Research Association from March 25 to 29 showed that 68% of the respondents supported the central government’s decision to improve Hong Kong’s electoral system; 62% of the respondents were in favor of abolishing 117 election committees. District council seats.
"Sing Tao Daily" reported on the 30th that Li Jiachao, the director of the Hong Kong Security Bureau, stated that the amendments set out specific and clear provisions for the election system, allowing Hong Kong to effectively solve deep-seated problems, and that Hong Kong will be able to develop vigorously on a stable basis in the future.
Li Jiachao and the Commissioner of Police Deng Pingqiang, Commissioner of Customs and Excise Deng Yihai, Commissioner of Immigration, Ou Jiahong, Commissioner of Correctional Services Hu Yingming, Commissioner of Fire Services, Leung Wai-hung and Director of the Government Flying Service, Hu Weixiong, and other six disciplined service chiefs, Expressing welcome and full support to the National People's Congress in implementing the principle of "patriots ruling Hong Kong" and reforming the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's electoral system.
Western pressure and conspiracy will not succeed
At the same time, some Western powers once again came out to discredit and provocateurs.
According to Reuters, British Foreign Secretary Raab again accused China on the 30th of violating the "Sino-British Joint Declaration" and "undermining the freedom of Hong Kong people and violating Beijing's international obligations."
Bloomberg claimed on the 30th that this action by China may deepen already tense relations with Western countries.
The United States, the United Kingdom, and others have previously condemned China's actions. The Biden administration this month also strengthened the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on China last year.
US Secretary of State Blincoln previously called the reform of Hong Kong's electoral system a "direct attack by China on the promised autonomy of Hong Kong."
China has repeatedly refuted the hypocritical performances and double standards of the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated in his speech on the 30th that Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China and Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs.
The Chinese government is determined and confident to safeguard national sovereignty, security, development interests, and Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. It is determined and confident to continue to implement "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy.
Any attempt to intervene in Hong Kong affairs and put pressure on China will never succeed.
Hong Kong's "Hong Kong Economic Journal" published a comment on the 30th, saying, where is the "source of chaos" in Hong Kong?
One is on the street, two is in parliament, and three is outside the country.
After the implementation of the National Security Law, the street riots disappeared, and overseas forces have reduced a lot. However, if the election method for the Chief Executive and Legislative Council members is not revised, there will still be "Hong Kong independence" elements and "speculationists" entering the system.
"Law amendment" conforms to Hong Kong's reality, reflects Hong Kong's overall interests, and aims to achieve good governance and good governance.
After the "law amendment", Hong Kong's governance team can concentrate on seeking development, benefiting the people's livelihood, and resolving the deep-seated contradictions that restrict Hong Kong's development. Hong Kong's steps towards the future will be more stable. No foreign power can want to cause chaos in Hong Kong!