NPC stipulates SARs’ candidates must not receive foreign funds

Candidates from Hong Kong and Macao standing for election to the National People’s Congress (NPC) should show their allegiance to the nation and not receive overseas funds for election-related matters, according to a senior NPC official on Wednesday.

This is the first time the NPC has made such a request in drafts on election methods of deputies from the two special administrative regions.

It comes after last year’s oath-taking scandal in the Legislative Council, when two separatist lawmakerselect engaged in very offensive anti-China antics during their swearing-in ceremony.

Vice-Chairman and Secretary-General of the NPC Standing Committee Wang Chen released the drafts at an NPC plenary session.

The NPC deputies are the component members of “the highest organ” of State power. They exercise this power on behalf of the people. Therefore, they must declare in the Participant’s Registration Form that they uphold the Constitution and bear allegiance to the nation, Wang explained.

Candidates for NPC deputies from Hong Kong and seats Macao should also declare they uphold the Basic Law, bear allegiance to the SARs, and endorse the principle of “One Country, Two Systems”, Wang added.

Currently, the same requirements apply to LegCo elections.

Wang said candidates should also declare that they have not — and will not - receive any funds relating to elections from foreign institutions, organizations or individuals.

This requirement is to “safeguard national security and prevent foreign powers interfering in the elections”, Wang said.

If a candidate is found to have received any overseas funds, the candidate’s election will be declared null and void, Wang said, citing the drafts.

A supervisory mechanism over NPC deputies will ensure that if any NPC deputy violates the declaration made in the Participant’s Registration Form, the Credentials Committee will produce a report proposing disqualification of the deputy to the NPC Standing Committee, the drafts said.

The number of seats on the 13th NPC allocated to Hong Kong is 36; and Macao has 12 seats — both the same as in the current 12th NPC.

The drafts note that the elections should be competitive and held by secret ballot. Candidates for NPC deputies should be elected only if they have obtained more than half of the votes cast by members of the election council.

To be eligible for candidacy, one has to be nominated by 10 or more members of the election council in the first place.

The drafts are expected to be voted on before the 12th NPC concludes its fifth session on March 15.

Convener of Hong Kong’s NPC delegation Maria Tam Wai-chu said the requirement to pledge allegiance to the country’s laws and principles is a “natural thing” for NPC members to do.

She admitted that the emergence of separatist advocacy in Hong Kong is an important factor behind the move.

Tam also said it is “perfectly justified” to request a deputy to the country’s top State body not to take money from any other country in such circumstances.

have been allocated to the Hong Kong SAR in the 13th National People’s Congress.