The principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" doesn't mean people cannot express different or opposite opinions on the governing of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said Deng Zhonghua, deputy head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.

People who meet the standard of "patriots administering Hong Kong", achieve enough nominations and have their qualification confirmed by the newly-established candidate qualification review committee can run for the elections, stressed Deng.

The Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress on Tuesday voted unanimously to adopt the amended Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law of the HKSAR.