Legal pundits in Hong Kong have emphasized the importance of upholding the executive-led system, noting it leads to better people’s livelihoods, governance efficiency, and social stability.
Their remarks were made on Tuesday at the 10th “One Country, Two Systems” and Basic Law Seminar, which was organized in Hong Kong by Bauhinia Magazine.
Under the theme of implementing an executive-led system, enhancing governance efficiency, and promoting high-quality development, the seminar invited over 10 experts with deep understanding of the Basic Law to deliver speeches.
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Paul Lam Ting-kwok, secretary for justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, pointed out that as Hong Kong is advancing from stability to prosperity, and the country is entering the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, how to enhance governance efficiency and promote high-quality development is a mandatory question for Hong Kong's governance team.
Adhering to and optimizing the executive-led system is the answer, Lam stressed.
Although the executive, legislative, and judicial branches each have their respective roles, their fundamental purpose is to safeguard the overarching interests of the HKSAR and the welfare of its residents, Lam said.
President of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Starry Lee Wai-king, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, outlined the LegCo’s duties on supporting and supervising the SAR government, encompassing supporting and refining the policies and proposals proposed by the government, assisting the government in aligning with national development framework, reinforcing the bridging role between the government and the community, as well as bolstering collaboration with the Chinese mainland in policy research and implementation.
Deng Zhonghua, president of the Beijing-based think tank Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, noted that the executive-led system is conducive to ensure the central government's overall jurisdiction in the city, safeguard the fundamental interests of the nation, foster the economic prosperity and development of Hong Kong and Macao, and safeguard the overall and long-term interests of the SARs.
Under this system, Deng said, the chief executive and the SAR government hold a dominant position, with the executive authorities, the legislature and the Judiciary performing their respective functions. The system aims at better ensuring the chief executive and the SAR government govern in accordance with the law, continuously improve efficiency, and promote good governance, Deng said.
During the keynote speech session, lawmaker Priscilla Leung Mei-fun said that Hong Kong possesses various outstanding advantages during its integration into the nation’s development, and it should adopt a more proactive stance to uphold the executive-led system and refine its governance structure, leverage its strengths to explore in areas such as legal integration, talent collaboration, and regional connectivity, and achieve greater development through its participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Tam Yiu-chung, vice-chairman of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, proposed three suggestions on improving executive-led system and aligning with the country's 15th Five-Year Plan; elevating the decisiveness and policy coherence of administrative decision-making; enhancing interaction between the administration and the legislature to increase legislative efficiency; and further promoting the professionalism and governance quality among the SAR's civil servants.
Fu Kin-chi, director of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, told China Daily after the seminar that the executive-led system is not only the foundational intent of the Basic Law's framework but also a practical safeguard for Hong Kong to react to complex internal and external environments.
As a law professor and the president of the Rule of Law, Education, and Technology Promotion Association, Fu noted that the system can swiftly mobilize public resources and formulate national-level response strategies for significant issues, such as public health crises and economic transformation.
By establishing and optimizing regular communication mechanisms under the executive-led system, societal demands can be integrated in the early stage of policy formulation, preventing the buildup of social conflicts due to institutional inertia, Fu noted.
This seminar has been held for 10 consecutive editions since its inception in 2016, forming a prominent dialogue platform for top legal scholars, policy experts, and representatives from various sectors.
