Vote hailed as latest success of new electoral system
Lee’s victory bodes well for Hong Kong’s unity, prospects
The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China’s State Council said on Sunday that Hong Kong has taken on a fresh look with a new electoral system and is poised for a brighter future at a new starting point.
The office expressed the view in an article released after John Lee Ka-chiu won the election to become the sixth-term chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with an overwhelming majority of votes. It congratulated Lee on winning the election.
The election represented another successful practice of the HKSAR’s new electoral system after the Election Committee elections in September last year and the election of the seventh-term Legislative Council in December, the office said.
It has been proved by solid facts that the new system is a good one that follows the “one country, two systems” principle and is suited to Hong Kong’s realities, the office said.
Facts will also prove that the newly elected chief executive will lead the new team of the HKSAR government and people from all sectors of society to remain united and strive for new prospects of good governance in Hong Kong at a new starting point, it added.
The election is the HKSAR’s first chief executive election held after Hong Kong’s transition from chaos to order. It is of great significance and far-reaching influence and has drawn wide attention.
The office hailed Sunday’s election as a complete success. This was achieved with the joint efforts of the HKSAR government and all sectors of society by conducting the election in strict accordance with the Basic Law of the HKSAR, relevant decisions of the National People’s Congress and its standing committee, and relevant electoral laws of the HKSAR, and by overcoming the impact of COVID-19, it said.
“The election process was orderly, fair, safe, clean and with numerous highlights,” it added.
Strong positive energy
The election focused on development and people’s well-being and brought together strong positive energy, said the office, noting that the goals and tenets of vision put forward by Lee in his announcement of his candidacy aroused a strong response and broad resonance in Hong Kong.
Recognizing the extensive, in-depth public participation, the office said the election fully demonstrated democracy. Since Lee announced his candidacy, he has visited people from all walks of life, conducted online exchanges of views and visited communities to extensively collect public opinion and introduce his election vision and manifesto.
It can be said that the process by which Lee formed and introduced his election manifesto was one of democratic consultation in Hong Kong society, the office said.
Lee got wide support, winning more than 99 percent of the votes, which fully reflects the high recognition he gained in Hong Kong society.
It is widely believed that Lee, who was promoted from a front-line police officer to chief secretary for administration of the HKSAR government, has rich grassroots experience and strong enforcement ability. He has taken a firm stand and stood the test with courage and sense of responsibility in the process of stopping violence and chaos and implementing the law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR.
The general public in Hong Kong has full trust in and high expectations for Lee, believing that he can recruit talent to form a new administration team of the HKSAR government, achieve goals with decisive administration, improve governance with an open mind, sincerely serve the public, and unite all sectors of society to write a new chapter.
Throughout the whole process of the chief executive election, there was no longer wanton confrontation or arbitrary attacks and smears.
The election was the true embodiment of the spirit of democracy, the office said.
It also said the success of the election has once again proved the advanced nature and strengths of the HKSAR’s new electoral system.
In strictly implementing the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong,” the new electoral system ensures the election of talented patriots, the office said.
President Xi Jinping has emphasized that to ensure the steady practice of “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong in the long run, the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong” must always be upheld, the office noted.
“The criteria for a patriot are objective and clear,” it said. “A patriot is one who sincerely safeguards China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests, respects and upholds the fundamental system of the country and the constitutional order in the HKSAR, and goes all out for prosperity and stability in Hong Kong.”
By preventing the forces that oppose China and seek to destabilize Hong Kong from participating in the HKSAR’s government system, the new electoral system can ensure that the people elected to key public offices of the HKSAR are all firm patriots, the office said.
The new electoral system of the HKSAR is committed to the building and development of a highquality democracy with Hong Kong characteristics, in which the position of Hong Kong people as their own masters is fully guaranteed, the office said.
The advantages and unique features of the new electoral system have been fully demonstrated in the three elections, it said.
First, the new system is broadly representative. Those who were elected are from various social groups, sectors and backgrounds and include a number of community-level and young people. They can extensively solicit opinions from the public and help smooth the operation of channels for different groups to make their voices heard regarding their rights and interests.
Second, the system is politically inclusive. Participants represent various political groups, espousing different political philosophies. Upholding the principle of loving the country and Hong Kong, the new electoral system has ensured inclusiveness and diversity to the greatest possible extent.
Third, it ensures balanced participation. The design of the HKSAR’s new electoral system takes into consideration the different interests of all sectors of the Hong Kong community, better striking a balance among the overall interests of Hong Kong and the interests of various sectors and different areas.
Fourth, the system guarantees fair competition. The candidates try their best to persuade voters by focusing on their competitiveness in professional ability, election manifesto, ideas and sense of responsibility and contribution, making the election more rational, fairer and better organized. In this way, the new electoral system ensures that the process reflects popular will, pools people’s wisdom and serves the good of the public. It is a broad-based and real democracy that works, the office said.
Improving efficiency
It also said the new system is conducive to upholding the executive-led system while improving efficiency in administration. Hong Kong practices the executive-led system with the chief executive at its core, and the new electoral system helps to end the long-standing conflict between the legislative and executive agencies and solve the strife within the Legislative Council. This enables the HKSAR government and all sectors to concentrate on developing the economy, improving people’s livelihoods, and shoring up the region’s strengths in global competition.
The office said the improved electoral system optimizes and enhances the democracy of the HKSAR, effectively underpinning the long-term peace, stability and development of Hong Kong.
With the new electoral system put into full practice, the national security law in Hong Kong thoroughly implemented, and rectification carried out in key areas, Hong Kong’s transition from chaos to order is further advanced, said the office. It added that Hong Kong society now shows greater solidarity and harmony, and its business environment has been improved.
As long as the new HKSAR government and people from all walks of life in Hong Kong seize the historical opportunities and strive to overcome even the most difficult obstacle, Hong Kong is certain to embrace an even brighter tomorrow, the office said.
The conditions are in Hong Kong’s favor, it added. With the new electoral system in place, more patriots with outstanding capabilities are entering the administrative structure of the HKSAR, forming a patriotic, responsible and united administrative team that serves the people.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong maintains its outstanding advantages. The Chinese central government unswervingly implements the principle of “one country, two systems” and is opening up wider to the world.
Space for development
Hong Kong has great opportunities. By integrating itself more into overall national development, the HKSAR will see more space for development. The central government fully supports Hong Kong in participating in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and cooperating in the Belt and Road Initiative. In the meantime, the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) specifically underscores support for Hong Kong in elevating its position as an international center of finance, shipping and trade, and an international air traffic hub, among others.
Hong Kong’s development is safeguarded by the central government. Whenever Hong Kong faces difficulties, the motherland always reaches out a helping hand. For instance, in the face of the COVID-19 epidemic, the central government fully supported Hong Kong’s battle against the virus with decisive measures.
Hong Kong’s new starting point coincides with the country’s new journey toward the second centenary goal of building a modern socialist country in all respects, said the office, adding that this will create great synergy for development.
In China’s journey toward national rejuvenation, Hong Kong cannot and will not be absent, the office emphasized.