HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Thursday said it would cooperate with the central government in improving Hong Kong’s electoral system.  

A HKSAR government spokesman made the statement in response to the deliberation by the National People's Congress of a draft decision on "improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)".

An HKSAR government spokesman said matters concerning the political system of the HKSAR “are the prerogative of the central government” 

"To ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of ‘one country, two systems’, we must always adhere to the principle of ‘patriots governing Hong Kong’. This principle is fundamental to national sovereignty, security, development interests, as well as the long-term prosperity of Hong Kong," the spokesman was quoted as saying in the statement. 

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"Only through ‘patriots governing Hong Kong’ can the central government's overall jurisdiction over the HKSAR be effectively implemented, the constitutional order as set out by the Constitution and the Basic Law be effectively safeguarded and the long-term stability and safety of Hong Kong be achieved," he added.

The spokesman said matters concerning the political system of the HKSAR “are the prerogative of the central government.” 

“The central government has the authority and responsibility to improve the electoral system in Hong Kong. The HKSAR government respects that the central government is taking the lead and will render its full co-operation,” he said.

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