China News Service, Hong Kong, April 13th, title: Interview with Zheng Ruohua: Improving the electoral system to correct the chaos in Hong Kong
China News Agency reporter Zeng Ping
"Each place will use its own methods to work out a democratic election system that best suits the actual situation." Zheng Ruohua, the Secretary of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Service recently.
She believes that the actual situation in Hong Kong is to correct the chaos, consider from a holistic perspective, and think about how to turn the wrong path back on track.
Zheng Ruohua said that the goal of any electoral system is to seek happiness and welfare for the people, develop the economy and preserve the interests of national development. From this point of view, the electoral system in each place must be different.
She quoted the European Court of Human Rights as pointing out that the ways of organizing and operating the electoral system are diversified, while the historical development, cultural diversity and political ideology of each region are different. Each country or region has the right to shape its own according to local conditions. Democratic vision.
"Our current electoral system is to put the overall interests in, increase representation, and ensure balanced participation. This is actually to allow the parliament to consider all issues in a rational, objective, and balanced manner. Therefore, it must be a step forward for our democratic development in Hong Kong. Zheng Ruohua said that Article 45 and Article 68 of the Hong Kong Basic Law have not been changed, indicating that the ultimate goal of universal suffrage has not changed. However, if you go farther and farther, get more crooked, and do not return to the right track, it will be difficult to achieve the ultimate goal.
Moreover, the above two provisions focus on "according to the actual situation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and gradual progress." After the completion of the election system, Hong Kong will be closer to the goal of universal suffrage. Zheng Ruohua said that no so-called democratic system is a panacea, so it cannot be generalized. , An election system that conforms to the actual local conditions must be formulated.
"Now that the order of our society is restored and the order of our parliament is restored, our time for political discussions and actual discussions will be more practical and in place. Under such circumstances, of course, we can better deal with economic and people’s livelihood issues, and then Solve some deep-seated problems." Zheng Ruohua said in an interview when talking about the future governance space of the Hong Kong SAR government after the election system has been improved.
She also elaborated on the goals and significance of improving the electoral system from the perspectives of legitimacy and necessity.
"The legitimacy is unquestionable." Zheng Ruohua said that how each country formulates the relevant election system is the central authority. Article 31, Article 62, paragraph 14, etc. of the Constitution specify relevant regulations, which meet the requirements of laws and political ethics. The necessity lies in the fact that anti-China, anti-rule, and "Hong Kong independence" ideas have been bred in Hong Kong society in recent years. The Hong Kong National Security Law has quelled street violence and restored social order. However, there are still many chaos in the Hong Kong political system.
Zheng Ruohua believes that the implementation of the principle of "patriots ruling Hong Kong" is of vital importance to Hong Kong. The implementation of this principle is reflected in the following aspects in the design of the perfect electoral system: First, broad representation, the Election Committee (Election Committee) The number of members and members of the Legislative Council has increased; second, balanced and orderly political participation, with the increase, consolidation, and adjustment of electoral committee sectors; third, improving governance efficiency, allowing the Legislative Council and the society to discuss politics rationally; fourth Reflect the overall social interests, and improve the nomination system to make political participants recognizable and representative; fifth, improve the relationship between the executive and the legislature, and effectively implement the executive-led system headed by the chief executive.
"Except for a few organizations, group voters have now become the main method for electing committee members." Zheng Ruohua believes that this move is to achieve overall participation, so that these groups can more effectively and evenly consider the overall interests.
"In other words, not only consider the interests of the individual sector, but may also involve the interests of the entire Hong Kong and even the country to make a choice."
Taking the legal profession as an example, she pointed out that the Hong Kong Basic Law is an important law of the SAR, and it is a good thing that a member of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress serves as an ex officio member of the legal profession.
The Hong Kong Council of the Chinese Law Society is an authoritative organization. The council members are all top representatives in the industry. The Hong Kong council members have a certain understanding of Hong Kong law and the overall development of the country.
The remaining members of the legal profession are elected by industry groups.
Talking about the consideration that the Candidate Qualification Examination Committee (Association Examination Committee) should be a principal official of the SAR government, Zheng Ruohua said that the Qualification Examination Committee members should be familiar with the actual situation in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Basic Law, Hong Kong National Security Law and other relevant laws, and understand the overall social development of Hong Kong. And to gain the trust of the central government.
Originally, the qualification review was done by the Returning Officer alone. Now, after being replaced by the Qualification Review Committee, "not one person has the final say, several people discuss it together", and the qualification of candidates must be handled fairly in accordance with the law.
Since the qualifications of candidates involve support and allegiance, the Hong Kong National Security Council may issue an opinion letter, and the National Security Council also has many members, "definitely not alone will have the final say."
She also said that there has always been an effective disclosure system within the SAR government. If there is any conflict of interest, it must be disclosed.
"We will pay careful attention to ensure that no one uses power for personal gain or makes unfair or illegal decisions when he has the opportunity to review."
Hong Kong will hold three elections in the next year. Zheng Ruohua bluntly stated that the Attorney General's work on amending relevant local laws is very intensive, and an internal team of 20 to 30 people has been set up to concentrate on this matter.
"A lot of colleagues really put a lot of effort into completing this work without rest," she said. "We are confident that it will be submitted to the Legislative Council on the 14th (April), and hope that we will be able to contribute to every stage in the future. For the overall interests of Hong Kong, everyone will work together to accomplish this goal." (End)