Hong Kong is one of the topics on the agenda of this year's Two Sessions, China's annual legislative meetings. CGTN's reporter Su Yuting sat down with Huang Ping, a member of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, and the executive president of the Chinese Institute of Hong Kong. They discussed Hong Kong's electoral system, the development of the Greater Bay Area, and the fight against COVID-19.

CGTN: What's the significance of improving Hong Kong's electoral system and upholding the principle of "Patriots governing Hong Kong?"

Huang: The existing electoral system in Hong Kong was established decades ago, which did not match the actual situations in Hong Kong in terms of its economic, social and political development, and what is more, in recent years.

It shows the system, even in one way or another, cannot provide legal protection for the interests of prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, but rather became the weak part of the "One Country, Two Systems." 

The very aim of reforming the electoral system is to make sure the members who will be elected either as Legislative Council members or as administration officials are not the ones who may run for the so-called "illegal actions for justice," including supporting violence against order and daily business, stopping Council meetings, inviting sanctions by foreign countries or agencies, so it means there is a need to improve the electoral system, and it has to be done in time.

CGTN: Some commentators accuse Beijing of attempting to further stack Hong Kong's elections with loyalists and using the definition of patriots to suit its own agenda. What's your take on this?


Huang: I would like to argue it is not the case, and, on the contrary, it is to help Hong Kong to go along with the original design for "One Country, Two Systems." 

Beijing's agenda has been very clear, that is, maintain the "One Country, Two Systems" as it was designed for at least 50 years, under which the ways of running Hong Kong will remain as capitalist, and the people in Hong Kong will enjoy its prosperity, stability. And last but not the least, freedom and high autonomy. 

In the meantime, China as one country, Hong Kong being a part of it, will protect its territory and sovereignty, national security and interests, cannot be overthrown by any foreign forces. This is not new, nor only the case for China. So the reform is actually to provide those minimal and basic requirements for those who want to go for civil services.


CGTN: How do you view the central government's support of Hong Kong in combating COVID-19 and restoring Hong Kong's hard-hit economy?


Huang: There is no doubt the COVID-19 has been a challenge for all of us, and people in Hong Kong are in unusually difficult situation, for their health and for their welfare. 

Under such circumstance, the central government should and did its own job to more than just show its duty and responsibility, since the pandemic is a problem for all of us. It would be odd if the central government as well as people in Chinese mainland did not care about the pandemic and the economy in Hong Kong.

CGTN:
 Two years ago, China unveiled plans to develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. What benefits have these policies created for businesses and residents in Hong Kong?

Huang: It is absolutely a great development agenda. Even among countries in one region, either in case of EU, or ASAEN, there have been great economic integration and cooperation. 

So why not taking the advantages of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao as an already existing bay, even one of the greatest bays in the world, to further develop much deeper and wider cooperation, under which each can provide its special contributions and gain benefits from. 

It is obvious for Hong Kong and its people in terms of its innovation, economy, employment, etc. It is an issue of how to do, rather than why to do and what to do.