Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said on Friday that the HKSAR government fully assists the central government's efforts to improve the HKSAR's electoral system and practice the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong."
Lam made the remarks in a statement released shortly after a draft decision on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR was submitted on Friday to the National People's Congress (NPC) for deliberation.
"This principle is fundamental to national sovereignty, security, development interests, as well as the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong," Lam said in the statement.
HKSAR government will collect the views of different sectors of Hong Kong and analyze them to assist the Standing Committee of the NPC in amending Annex I of the Basic Law, which concerns the method for the selection of the Chief Executive, and Annex II, which concerns the method for the formation of the Legislative Council and its voting procedures, she noted.
She said that as there will be a number of elections in the coming 12 months, so there is a "pressing need" to complete the necessary legislative work.
In recent years, there have been parties opposed to the central government and disrupted the law and order of Hong Kong, Lam said, adding they may enter the HKSAR political system through elections.
She said that "patriots governing Hong Kong" is definitely not a newly created concept and is also completely in line with the constitutional requirements of the HKSAR.
"Tracing to its source, the chief architect of 'One Country, Two Systems,' Mr. Deng Xiaoping, clearly stated in 1984 that the idea of 'Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong' has its scope and criteria, that is to say Hong Kong should be managed by Hong Kong people, with patriots forming the mainstay."
Article 1 of the Basic Law states that the HKSAR is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China, Lam quoted in her statement, and added that Article 12 of the Basic Law also clearly stipulates that the HKSAR shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy and come directly under the Central People's Government.
"Patriots governing Hong Kong" is a "critical and necessary requirement" to the successful and robust implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" principle, she said.
China will adhere to the "One Country, Two Systems" principle and maintain the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, according to the draft outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for national economic and social development and the long-range objectives through the year 2035, which was unveiled Friday.
Speaking of it, Lam said the HKSAR government highly values Hong Kong's integration into the country's overall development, adding they made proposals in this regard a year ago and was pleased to see that the central government has accepted them.
Compared with the 13th FYP (2016-2020), the 14th one added support for Hong Kong to build an international innovation and technology center, enhance its status as an international aviation hub, and develop a center for cultural exchanges between China and other countries across the world, which is really encouraging, Lam said.
"The HKSAR government will definitely make good use of the central government's support and inject new impetus into the Hong Kong economy through the specific measures I put forward in multiple policy addresses," according to the senior official.
"Chinese mainland officials told me that it's rare to write the visions of ministries or provinces and cities into the country's FYP. The more than 500 words depicting supportive measures to Hong Kong in the 14th FYP will bring us infinite opportunities," Lam said.
"After the National People's Congress greenlighted the draft plan, the HKSAR government will introduce work in detail and continue to solicit opinions from the public," added Lam.
Leung Chun-ying: Electoral system improvement to promote executive-legislative relations
Leung Chun-ying, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, on Friday voiced support for the central government's efforts to improve HKSAR's electoral system.
Some Election Committee members, Legislative Council members and District Council members elected in recent years have blatantly colluded with foreign governments to target the country and paralyze HKSAR government's governance in a sensational manner, Leung pointed out.
If Hong Kong's electoral system is not improved, there will never be peace in Hong Kong, he stressed.
Leung said he believes that the improvement of the electoral system will not only guarantee "patriots governing Hong Kong," but also promote executive-legislative relations.
LegCo president: An understandable and appropriate move
Voicing his support, Andrew Leung, president of the Legislative Council (LegCo) of the HKSAR, said it is understandable and appropriate to improve the electoral system of Hong Kong at the national level, adding local legislation on the issue is also required.
A better electoral system can rationalize the constitutional order, build a peaceful and rational LegCo, reduce unnecessary internal conflicts, ensure the stability of "One Country, Two Systems," and facilitate the prosperous and stable development of Hong Kong society and the stability of people's lives, Leung said.
He also pointed out that the principle of the administration of Hong Kong by Hong Kong people with patriots as the main body is conducive to safeguarding national security.
It's a universal principle in many countries that key public posts are held by patriots, Leung added.
Noting that the central government has always understood and tolerated different views existing in Hong Kong society, Leung stressed that different voices can still be heard in the LegCo after improving the electoral system.
HK delegation: NPC has unquestionable authority to decide
The HKSAR delegation to the Two Sessions said Friday in a statement that the NPC, as China's highest organ of state power, has unquestionable authority to decide to improve Hong Kong's electoral system.
The delegation said they believe the improvement of the electoral system will not make any change to "One Country, Two Systems," but will strengthen the principle's ability to withstand risks, help put an end to the political chaos in Hong Kong, and allow local society to focus on economic development, people's livelihood, and its integration into the overall development of the country.