Like a sophisticated navigation satellite system, the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the electoral reforms introduced by the central government help Hong Kong navigate through turbulent political currents created by anti-China hostile forces, so that the “one country, two systems” principle would ensure a long, safe voyage. With considerable verbal dexterity, Xia Baolong, the director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, laid down clear guidelines for ensuring the steady and sustained implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle in an online seminar held in mid-July. First of all, he discussed ways to find firm and competent patriots to govern Hong Kong.
No clarification better summarizes the basic requisites for Hong Kong’s political leaders and lawmakers than the emphasis placed by Xia on the five qualities of firm and competent patriots. These five qualities are: the ability to fully and accurately practice “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong; strategic thinking to solve tough problems facing the region’s development; serving the public with a proactive approach; rallying and uniting all sectors of society for the development of Hong Kong; and working diligently with a strong sense of responsibility.
Xia emphasized the need to design a vetting system to select patriots who satisfy the prerequisites for election candidates with national interests in mind. The pressing need to ascertain true patriotism takes priority over other matters. Patriots should truly safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests. They must respect and uphold the fundamental system of the country and the constitutional order of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. In other words, Beijing will never tolerate any acts that hurt the fundamental system of the country; namely, socialism led by the Communist Party of China.
Xia laid down five tasks for the HKSAR in plugging national security loopholes and ensuring a patriot-led administration in Hong Kong. First, Hong Kong needs to enforce the NSL thoroughly. Second, the HKSAR government must improve the judicial process to bring entities suspected of violating the NSL to justice in a timely fashion. The first-ever NSL violation case against Leon Tong Ying-kit is regarded as a landmark trial in the HKSAR. The bone of contention is the offending slogan “Liberate Hong Kong; revolution of our times” printed on a flag carried by Tong. In line with public expectations, he was found guilty of inciting others to commit secession and engaging in a terrorist act by crashing his motorcycle into three police officers.
Third, Hong Kong must also continue improving the legal system to safeguard national security, such as restarting national security legislation according to Article 23 of the Basic Law of the HKSAR. Fourth, the HKSAR government should step up its supervision, guidance and management of schools, universities, civic organizations, social media platforms and the media industry. Last but not the least, Xia hopes the HKSAR government will make a great success in the three upcoming elections of the Election Committee, the Legislative Council and the next-term chief executive, beginning with proper gatekeeping during the election candidate eligibility review process. The election system has been revamped to introduce several layers of candidate vetting.
Following the disappearance of opposition for the sake of it in the Legislative Council, the jury is still out on when and how the Lantau Tomorrow Vision plan will be smoothly implemented to meet the long-term housing needs of Hong Kong residents. In spite of the above uncertainty, the SAR government appears determined to increase land supply. For example, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po recently pledged to cut red tape and speed up land supply in Hong Kong
Xia’s speech also touched on other issues, particularly livelihood issues Hong Kong society care about the most. Setting a goal for Hong Kong to get rid of subdivided flats and “cage dwellings” by 2049, Xia practically let the HKSAR government know the central authorities will be watching how well it tackles housing problems from here on. The theory of governance legitimacy means the HKSAR government must pass the Darwinian test of survival by delivering what it has promised. In fact, this is the first time that a time frame has been set for resolving a specific livelihood issue.
We understand the complexity of the housing problems in Hong Kong. A local family would need to save for 20.7 years on average to afford a home, according to the latest annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Study. Some put the blame on the special interest groups who try to slow down property development in the territory. For instance, property developers gave only a lukewarm response to a Land Sharing Pilot Scheme launched by the SAR government last year.
Rigid government regulations have made redevelopment difficult, while building codes and planning rules have made housing supply increasingly limited. Some conservationists and environmentalists have been able to prevail over society’s wider interests by relying on legal remedies to hinder or slow down the development process. Land resumption and compensation involve tricky legal issues that may create a disincentive for the affected parties to easily accept the offers made by the government or property developers. The protracted negotiations may sometimes result in a long waiting game.
Following the disappearance of opposition for the sake of it in the Legislative Council, the jury is still out on when and how the Lantau Tomorrow Vision plan will be smoothly implemented to meet the long-term housing needs of Hong Kong residents. In spite of the above uncertainty, the SAR government appears determined to increase land supply. For example, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po recently pledged to cut red tape and speed up land supply in Hong Kong. There is no doubt at all that Xia’s call to solve the problems of subdivided units and “cage dwellings” resonates with all parties concerned loud and clear, including the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Junius Ho is a Legislative Council member and a solicitor.
Kacee Ting Wong is a barrister and a part-time researcher of Shenzhen University Hong Kong and Macao Basic Law Research Center.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
