To fully reflect the criterion of "patriots administering Hong Kong," China's top legislature voted unanimously on Tuesday to adopt the amended Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), a decision at the constitutional level to improve Hong Kong's electoral system.

The unanimous approval shows the common will from all Chinese people – including compatriots from the HKSAR – in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, development interests, and their firm determination in preserving the order of Hong Kong's legal system, said Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Li Zhanshu at the Tuesday meeting. The meeting was attended by 167 members of the NPC Standing Committee.

The two annexes - passed at the closing meeting of the 27th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th NPC – address the method for the selection of the HKSAR Chief Executive and the method for the formation of the HKSAR Legislative Council and its voting procedures, respectively.

Read more:

Full Text: Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law of the HKSAR

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President Xi Jinping signed presidential orders to promulgate the amended annexes.

The meeting also passed bills related to personnel appointment and removal.

Li also presided over two meetings of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee before the closing meeting.

Common will of the Chinese people

The passing of the NPC decision on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR earlier this month and the two amended annexes adopted Tuesday fully demonstrate the resolution and common will of the Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots, in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests as well as the constitutional order of the HKSAR, Li said while presiding over the closing meeting.

A democratic electoral system suiting Hong Kong's legal status and reality has taken shape as a result of the amendments, he noted.

The improved electoral system has reconstructed the Election Committee (EC) of the HKSAR and given it more powers, Li noted.

While the Chief Executive of the HKSAR will continue to be elected by the EC, the amendments however, adjusted and improved the size, composition, and formation process of the committee.

Besides, the EC has been entrusted with the new functions of electing a relatively large share of Legislative Council members and directly participating in the nomination of all candidates for the Legislative Council.

The improved electoral system has also put in place and improved a candidate eligibility review mechanism, Li added.

As the EC will be expanded from the current 1,200 members to 1,500, divided into five sectors, Lawrence Ma, director of the China Law Society and executive council chairman of the Hong Kong Legal Exchange Foundation, believes that the expansion will allow those no voters' voices to be heard.

He noted the vast majority of some 4.5 million people in HKSAR were not represented in past elections, adding that past electoral systems haven't given enough attention to the grassroots.

This time the electoral system will allow those unrepresented to be represented, Ma said, adding that HKSAR's election system will be more democratic after the improvement.

(With input from Xinhua)