Hong Kong has encountered many challenges in the past year. As a result of fierce anti-globalization waves and the repeated outbreaks of the COVID-19 epidemic within its territory, Hong Kong has suffered a severe economic downturn with a high-perching unemployment rate, and the Legislative Council election has been postponed. People have fewer opportunities for meeting, chatting, having dinner or going shopping together. Instead, they had to have more online classes, video conferences and extend long-distance blessings to each other. Fortunately, amid the crisis, a new order, a new economy and a new life are quietly taking shape.
But Hong Kong has also seen many opportunities emerging over the past year. The National Security Law has been put into force, which has helped return the city's social order to normal and freeing residents of fear. And, as a result of the central authorities assisting Hong Kong in fighting the epidemic and Hong Kong residents uniting as one, the epidemic in the city has now receded. The 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) has given Hong Kong a new position and paved the way for Hong Kong to get on a new track. The construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is in full swing and such "dividends" as new policies for cultural tourism and schools for Hong Kong people's children have been successively released.
Over the past year, Hong Kong has gathered steam to plan for the future. The central authorities have led the efforts to resolve some political issues in Hong Kong, improving its electoral system to help it get out of the quagmire of "excessive politicization" and safeguard the well-being of Hong Kong people. The executive-led system has been strengthened, the Legislative Council is functioning efficiently, and the realization of good governance is in sight. Issues concerning the economy and people's well-being have been put back on the agenda, long-term plans have been laid out in the Policy Address and over 200 new measures have been implemented in an orderly manner.
Improving Hong Kong's electoral system is not a question of whether or not democracy should be promoted or whether or not the pace of democracy should be fast or slow. It is a question of whether Hong Kong develops high-quality democracy or low-quality democracy. I'm sure you'd like to know more about it. For this reason, we have invited experts to answer these questions and lay to rest any doubts in your hearts. These Q&A's are neither literary nor academic, and there are neither misinterpretations from "pan-democrats", nor misleadings from the political villains.
The epidemic is a source of anxiety, but it is comforting for think back on many episodes of the year. When we walk down Lugard Road, we can find that the night is still bright; when climbing Lion Rock, persons are still enterprising; when be in the racecourse, people's life is still full of fun.
We firmly believe that a Hong Kong administered by patriots will have a better tomorrow.
1. Why did the Central Authorities decide to improve Hong Kong's electoral system after the National Security Law was introduced in the city?
To safeguard political stability and security of political power, and uphold the fundamental principle of "one country, two systems". The National Security Law aims to address the issue of national security, and the improvement of the electoral system aims to address the issue of political stability and security of political power. The Central Authorities have the power and responsibility to address at the national level the problem of anti-China, destabilizing forces exploiting loopholes in the electoral system to undermine China's national sovereignty, security, development interests and the "one country, two systems" framework. The combination of such measures demonstrated the Central Authorities' commitment to implement the "one country, two systems" policy.
To fix loopholes in the electoral system and ensure that Hong Kong is administered by patriots. Administration by patriots is the basic political ethos of any country or region. It is imperative that strict institutional safeguards be provided to ensure that anti-China, destabilizing elements cannot, under any circumstances, enter the government organs of the Hong Kong SAR.
To improve the governance efficacy of the Hong Kong SAR and develop its democracy in a gradual and orderly manner. Improving the electoral system is conducive to solving problems such as the long-term confrontation between the executive and legislative branches, the declining efficacy of social governance, and the stagnant development of democracy. It will also help the SAR focus on developing the economy and improving people's livelihoods, fundamentally solve the deep-seated problems, and ultimately lay a foundation for achieving universal suffrage.
2. What improvements have been made in the restructuring and empowerment of the Election Committee?
It has served to optimize "balanced participation" in the deliberation and administration of SAR affairs. The Election Committee, by collectively nominating candidates for the Chief Executive election and for the Legislative Council, will ensure the representativeness of the candidates, and break the interest constraints imposed by different sectors, districts or political groups. This will enable people of all strata and from all walks of life to be fully represented in the governance structure, and better serve the overall interests of the Hong Kong society.
It has served to strengthen the "executive-led" political system. Through the restructuring and empowerment of the Election Committee, several elections have been organically combined to avoid the excessive politicization caused by the numerous and scattered election activities. This is conducive to the realization of the original intention of the Basic Law regarding the implementation of the executive-led political system and the enhancement of its governance efficiency.
It has demonstrated that the electoral reform was programmed to "advance with the times". The establishment of the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee to vet the eligibility of candidates for the elections of the Election Committee, the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council is a necessary step to upgrade and strengthen the entire electoral system, and to implement the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong".
3. Why has the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress made such specific stipulations for the new electoral system?
With the full authorization of the NPC, the Standing Committee of the NPC has the power to decide on the level of refinement in light of actual needs. The Standing Committee has endeavored to make the amendments as detailed as possible, spelling out specific provisions on major issues relevant to the improvement of the electoral system. Such an approach is not only a demonstration of the Standing Committee's power and obligation, but also a reflection of the Central Authorities' sense of genuine care and responsibility for Hong Kong. It will help make it easier for Hong Kong to proceed with local legislations.
The making of relatively specific provisions will help the SAR faithful implement its legislative intention when carrying out relevant local legislations, and complete the legislative work as soon as possible within a limited period of time, and ensure that the elections of the Election Committee, the Legislative Council, and the Chief Executive are completed within the next year. It will enhance the rigour of the system, avoid unnecessary disputes in its implementation, and prevent anti-China, destabilizing forces from exploiting institutional loopholes to interfere with the administration of the SAR.
4. How are the opinions of Hong Kong residents reflected in the new electoral system?
The Central Authorities have taken into full consideration the opinions of the people from all walks of life in Hong Kong. Both the decision of the NPC and the amendment process concerning the revised electoral system made full reference to and drew on the views of people from all walks of life in Hong Kong, including a strong public opinion as evidenced by 2.38 million signatures in support of the NPC decision. In three days starting March 15, the relevant departments held 100 symposiums and meetings, with the number of attendants exceeding 1,000, including those of the "pan-democratic" camp.
Many of the views of Hong Kong residents have been incorporated into the new electoral system. They include setting up some "safety valves" to provide a reliable institutional safeguard for patriots administering Hong Kong; reforming the Election Committee to ensure the balanced participation of all sectors; eliminating the representation of District Councils, etc. These opinions of Hong Kong residents reflected a consensus for peace after the turmoil the city has endured.
5. How to understand that the new electoral system has established a democratic system with Hong Kong characteristics?
The new electoral system has served to improve the quality of Hong Kong's democracy.
The size of the Election Committee has been expanded, with the composition of its sectors restructured and the method for its formation optimized. This makes the Election Committee more representative with more balanced participation. It can also better represent the overall interests of the Hong Kong society and reflect the characteristics of "one country, two systems".
The Election Committee returns the Chief Executive designate and some members of the Legislative Council, which will expand common ground of the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council among their constituents and help promote the smooth operation of the executive-led governance system in the SAR.
The expansion of the Legislative Council will better represent public opinions. The restructuring of sectors and voter eligibility in the functional constituency elections can better realize the original intention that the functional constituencies are elected to represent sector interests and ensure balanced participation. The revamp of the voting system of geographical constituencies through direct elections will help ban the entry of a small number of radical political forces into the organs of governance, promote the sound development of Hong Kong's social and political environment, and improve the quality and efficiency of legislative operations.
6. Why has a Candidate Eligibility Review Committee been set up?
This is a pre-installed "safety valve" to ensure "patriots administering Hong Kong". The Candidate Eligibility Review Committee will review and confirm the eligibility of candidates for Election Committee members, for the Chief Executive and for Legislative Council members. The committee will act as a "safety valve" by ensuring that the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" is implemented throughout the governance system. Hong Kong society has long appealed for the setting up of such a "front gate safety valve".
The system is designed to better safeguard national security. For years, the loopholes and deficiencies in Hong Kong's existing electoral system have become ever more evident. Just imagine what would have happened to Hong Kong if anti-China, destabilizing activists had taken up key positions in the HKSAR's governance system? The chaos and violence must never be repeated in Hong Kong.
It is a universal practice to vet the eligibility of election candidates. It is the most basic political ethic and legal requirement for any political participant to safeguard national security, which has nothing to do with general political and policy debates. It is a universal practice to review the eligibility of political participants in areas such as national security.
7. How to ensure the decisions of the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee are fair and just?
The Candidate Eligibility Review Committee marks an improvement to previous vetting system. According to the existing electoral system of the HKSAR, the Returning Officer is solely responsible for vetting candidates, and determines whether a candidate meets the legal requirements and conditions of "upholding the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR and swearing allegiance to the Hong Kong SAR of the People's Republic of China". The reformed electoral system elevates the vetting authority from the returning officer to the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee, and requires that the Commission for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR make findings as to whether a candidate meets the legal requirements and conditions of "upholding the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR and swearing allegiance to the Hong Kong SAR of the People's Republic of China". This will ensure, from a higher level of authority, that eligibility review results are authoritative, fair and just.
No legal proceedings may be instituted in respect of a decision made by the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee on the eligibility of a candidate pursuant to the opinion of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security. This is in conformity with the National Security Law for Hong Kong.
8. How to understand that the Election Committee represents the overall interests of Hong Kong?
Members of the Election Committee are coming from a more diversified social background, with the addition of subsectors such as small and medium enterprises, technology and innovation, grassroots associations, associations of Chinese fellow townsmen, representatives of associations of Hong Kong residents in the Mainland, and representatives of Hong Kong members of relevant national organizations. The interests of different social sectors are now more equally represented in the Election Committee.
In terms of the method for returning the Election Committee members, the improved electoral system has moderately increased the proportion of ex officio members and members elected through nomination, which can help avert populism arising from a single election method. The members of the Election Committee are mostly elected by eligible corporate voters in relevant constituencies, so that they can better reflect the appeals of these constituencies.
In terms of the eligibility for the Election Committee members, the revised electoral system does not lower the threshold for the ex officio members and nominated candidates, who must also meet all the qualifications required of Election Committee member, so as to ensure the principle of equality.
9. Why has a "Fifth Sector" been added to the Election Committee?
It makes the Election Committee more representative. The Fifth Sector is composed of HKSAR deputies to the NPC, HKSAR members of the CPPCC National Committee and the representatives of Hong Kong members of relevant national organization. This enables the Election Committee to better represent the interests of different sectors, social strata and groups. Hong Kong members of relevant national organization are the progressive forces of their respective sectors, and their participation can help improve the Election Committee's representativeness and progressiveness.
It is conducive to improving national awareness. Members of the Fifth Sector have a strong national awareness, and their being members of the Election Committee can help boost national awareness among Election Committee members, and harmonize the interests of both the country and the Hong Kong SAR.
It is conducive to promoting Hong Kong's integration into national development. Hong Kong members of relevant national organizations have a good knowledge of the country's needs and Hong Kong's strengths, and are serving as the bridges between Hong Kong and the mainland. Their membership with the Election Committee can help Hong Kong ride on the mainland's fast development, position itself as "participant" of the country's internal circulation and a "facilitator" in international circulation, and help resolve the deep-seated problems be setting the SAR's socioeconomic development.
10. Why are the HKSAR deputies to the National People's Congress and members of the CPPCC National Committee also able to register as members of the Election Committee?
This arrangement serves to improve the representativeness of relevant sectors within the Election Committee. Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress and members of the CPPCC National Committee have their own occupations. In addition to the Fifth Sector of the Election Committee, they are permitted to register as members of a subsector with which they are closely associated. That will help give a full play to their role in their respective subsectors, and facilitate exchanges and cooperation between their subsectors and the mainland.
Hong Kong deputies to the NPC and members of the CPPCC National Committee are the cream of the crop in their respective fields. Their number is limited and has remained relatively stable at around 200. Some of them are not permanent residents of Hong Kong, and thus cannot serve as members of the Election Committee or members of the Legislative Council. Groundless and malicious are the allegations that the Central Authorities have arbitrarily increased the number of Hong Kong members of the CPPCC National Committee in an attempt to control the Election Committee.
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