As the campaign for the eighth Legislative Council (LegCo) election of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shifts into high gear, some anti-China troublemakers in the city and external forces are stepping up their efforts to sabotage it, for example, by inciting a boycott.

But actions will have consequences. The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (OSNS) has issued a stern warning to those who are attempting to undermine the election, declaring a “zero tolerance” regime.

The current vibe of healthy competition marks a new stage of more mature democratic development in Hong Kong. In election forums, candidates are no longer entangled in political disputes but are focusing on economic development and livelihood improvement, seeking voters’ support through their policy platforms and winning trust through rationality.

This transformation in electoral culture is no accident; it is the inevitable result of the social environment transitioning from chaos to order following the implementation of the Hong Kong SAR National Security Law (NSL), and a vivid reflection of the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong” taking root. The enthusiastic participation from all sectors of society demonstrates the genuine desire of Hong Kong residents for high-quality democracy. When the city was trapped in political struggle some years ago, candidates driven by certain persuasions always indulged in grandstanding during elections. Now candidates generally show no preference for political stunts to curry favor with certain quarters of society but opt for substantive democracy that can tangibly improve people’s livelihoods and promote prosperity.

This kind of high-quality democracy is precisely the path that Hong Kong must take to shun political quagmire forever and pursue long-term stability and prosperity.

However, forces hostile to China, including those who want to use Hong Kong as a pawn in their geopolitical chessboard, are unwilling to see peace and prosperity in this land. Under the guise of “democracy”, “rights”, and “freedom”, they are spreading fallacies and attempting to confuse the public, undermine the upcoming election, and thus hinder the healthy development of democracy in Hong Kong.

As evidenced during the “black-clad” riots in 2019-20, when “democracy”, “rights”, and “freedom” were cited by the rioters for their cause, their so-called “democracy” is, in essence, violent politics that is anti-democratic; the “freedom” they advocate is, in substance, something that deprives others of their freedom. Having weathered those political storms, Hong Kong residents have seen through the subversive forces’ sinister motives and share a common disdain for these disruptive acts.

Election security is by no means merely a matter of procedural safeguards; it is an indispensable and vital component of the SAR’s good governance. A safe, fair, and orderly electoral environment is a foundational project for the steady and long-term success of the “one country, two systems” principle, and a prerequisite for the SAR government to administer affairs in accordance with the law.

The OSNS’ remarks on safeguarding election security in Hong Kong reflects the central government’s commitment to the “one country, two systems” principle, its strong upholding of Hong Kong’s legal order, and its robust protection of the democratic rights of Hong Kong residents

The OSNS defense of election security with a “zero tolerance” attitude is precisely based on a profound grasp of this political logic. The NSL, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, and the relevant subsidiary legislation collectively form a legal barrier for safeguarding national security, providing a solid legal guarantee for election security.

The law enforcement departments of the SAR are strictly enforcing the law, and the judicial institutions are rendering fair judgments in accordance with the law, demonstrating the proper demeanor of a Hong Kong governed by the rule of law. This resolute protection of election security not only deters individual illegal acts but also purifies Hong Kong’s overall political ecology.

Hong Kong is advancing into a new era of transitioning from order to prosperity. High-quality democracy is a powerful engine for this historical process. This means that democracy is not merely the exercise of voting rights but also the realization of quality governance; it is not just formal participation in elections but a substantive improvement in people’s well-being.

The OSNS firmly supports the SAR in fully, accurately, and resolutely implementing the legal system for safeguarding national security, and will not tolerate behavior and activities that disrupt elections. This constitutes the strongest safeguard for Hong Kong’s high-quality democratic development.

Any attempts to jeopardize Hong Kong’s election security and hinder the smooth and healthy development of democracy in the city are merely countercurrents and whirlpools in the vast torrent of history, destined to be cast aside by the times.

The OSNS’ remarks on safeguarding election security in Hong Kong reflects the central government’s commitment to the “one country, two systems” principle, its strong upholding of Hong Kong’s legal order, and its robust protection of the democratic rights of Hong Kong residents. It is believed that, under the effective protection of national security laws, the upcoming LegCo election will proceed smoothly, furthering the development of high-quality democracy in Hong Kong.

The author is a law professor, director of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, and president of the Association for the Promotion of Rule of Law, Education and Technologies.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.