Visitors take photos at a lookout at Victoria Peak in Hong Kong on Dec 29, 2020. (PETER PARKS / AFP)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong political heavyweights on Friday welcomed the initiative of the nation’s top legislature to deliberate a draft decision on improving Hong Kong’s electoral system.

Vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Tung Chee-hwa said the improvement to Hong Kong’s electoral system is essential to the benefit of all Hong Kong residents, and will offer institutional protection to Hong Kong’s long-term stability.

Tung Chee-hwa pointed out that Hong Kong has reached a key juncture and reform is a must. Noting that having patriots take prime public office positions is an internationally recognized principle, he said he believes it’s a collective wish for Hong Kong people to see the city governed by patriots

Tung, who is also the former chief executive of Hong Kong, pointed out that Hong Kong has reached a key juncture and reform is a must. Noting that having patriots take prime public office positions is an internationally recognized principle, he said he believes it’s a collective wish for Hong Kong people to see the city governed by patriots.

The improvements will be undertaken via a two-step approach, said Wang Chen, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. The NPC will make a decision, and the NPC Standing Committee will amend Annex I and II of the HKSAR Basic Law, relating to the selection of the chief executive of the HKSAR, and the formation of the city’s legislature and its voting procedures respectively, Wang said.

According to an explanatory speech by Wang, the draft decision proposes to reconstruct the HKSAR Election Committee, which elects the SAR’s chief executive. The committee will also be entrusted with a new function of electing a relatively large share of Legislative Council members and directly participating in the nomination of all LegCo candidates.

Leung Chun-ying, a vice-chairman of CPPCC National Committee who is also a SAR former chief executive, cautioned that Hong Kong may never regain peace if the flawed electoral system remains.

Leung said he believes the proposed improvement will enable the committee, which plays a key role in Hong Kong’s electoral system, to better fulfill its duty. He also expects the move will further improve the city’s executive and legislative relationship.

Hong Kong Legislative Council President Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen said an improved electoral system will clarify Hong Kong’s constitutional order, form a peaceful and rational legislature, and reduce unnecessary internal friction and contradictions.

The central government has all along been understanding and open to different views of the Hong Kong community, said Leung. He said the legislature will continue to present a diversity of voices with the improved electoral system.

Regina Ip, a member of the HKSAR Executive Council, attributed the rampant moves of anti-China disruptors in recent years to lack of steadfast implementation of "patriots governing Hong Kong," in particular an imperfect electoral system

Meanwhile,  Lo Man-tuen, executive director of Hong Kong Association for Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, said "Patriots governing Hong Kong" is fully justified and is the essence of "one country, two systems." He added that those who govern Hong Kong are required to swear to uphold the HKSAR Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the HKSAR when taking office under Article 104 of the Basic Law.

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Regina Ip, a member of the HKSAR Executive Council, attributed the rampant moves of anti-China disruptors in recent years to lack of steadfast implementation of "patriots governing Hong Kong," in particular an imperfect electoral system.

It has been proved time and again by elections of the Legislative Council and District Councils since Hong Kong's return to the motherland that the existing electoral system has loopholes that allow anti-China disruptors to conduct activities endangering Hong Kong's stability and national security, Alice Mak Mei-kuen, a member of the HKSAR's Legislative Council, said.

Recent political chaos largely stemmed from elections, Louis Chen, secretary-general of the Hong Kong Legal Exchange Foundation, said, stressing that improving the electoral system is the most critical and urgent task for implementing the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong."

Anti-China disruptors including Benny Tai took advantage of the electoral loopholes to manipulate public opinion, aiming to seize governance power of the HKSAR through elections, Chen said.

The NPC decision will plug the loopholes and provide the major guarantee for the implementation of "patriots governing Hong Kong," Willy Fu, vice chairman of the Executive Council of Hong Kong Legal Exchange Foundation said, stressing that the deliberation by the national legislature is constitutional, legitimate and reasonable.

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The central authorities clearly understand the situation in Hong Kong and respect the public opinion, Mak said, adding that efforts have been made recently to solicit advice from various sectors of Hong Kong through multiple forms including seminars.

It is a global common practice to apply such principles as in more than 100 countries, only those respect the law and constitutional order will be allowed to enter the power structure, Lau Siu-kai, vice president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, said.

Lau believed the principle will address the political infighting in Hong Kong, enable the Hong Kong society to refocus on the economy and people's livelihood, and promote the steady and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems".  

With Xinhua inputs