Expatriates living in Hong Kong have thrown their weight behind the National People’s Congress’ move to ensure patriots govern the special administrative region, saying it’s an international practice and the most basic and effective way to protect a nation’s core interests.
In Switzerland, it’s hard to imagine that key administrators, such as government officials, legislators and judicial officers, are unpatriotic
Angelo Giuliano
a Hong Kong-based Swiss financial consultant
The NPC — the nation’s top legislature — is set to vote on a draft decision today to improve Hong Kong’s electoral system and provide institutional safeguards for the city’s administrative power by way of implementing the “patriots governing Hong Kong” principle.
In an interview with China Global Television Network broadcast on Tuesday, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor vowed to complete local legislation on the electoral improvements in the next 12 months after the NPC Standing Committee has amended Annex I and Annex II of the Basic Law, the SAR’s constitutional document.
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Angelo Giuliano, a Hong Kong-based Swiss financial consultant, said requiring public officials to be loyal to the nation is a recognized principle in many Western countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, while many other nations also have strict laws to punish those who violate their oath of office.
“This is a basic requirement. In Switzerland, it’s hard to imagine that key administrators, such as government officials, legislators and judicial officers, are unpatriotic. Exploiting public office to harm national interests is intolerable in any country,” he said.
Giuliano noted that due to the unique practice of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong’s political situation is more complex than that of many other regions in the world. Many politicians chose to only uphold “two systems”, but ignored “one country”, he said.
The recent social turbulence in the SAR has highlighted the need for the city to rectify the false understating and create a healthy political environment, he said.
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Citing the Spanish government’s tough measures in dealing with the Catalan independence movement, Giuliano said the Chinese central government has shown much restraint in dealing with Hong Kong’s situation.
Describing the irresponsible behavior of some opposition lawmakers in Hong Kong as “democrazy”, he said the proposed improvements to the electoral system will help choose legislators who’re truly devoted to serving the people.
Renato, an Italian-born Hong Kong resident who has lived in the city for two decades, said it’s a collective and normal requirement for administrators worldwide to be faithful to their own countries.
He hopes the principle of “patriots governing Hong Kong” will restore political stability in the SAR and pave the way for more social and economic reforms, such as in education.
Kathy Zhang contributed to this story.
