Hong Kong publishes bill on improving electoral system

Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government on Tuesday published a bill on improving the electoral system in the Gazette. The draft law, the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021, was released in Hong Kong after revisions at the state level finished at the end of March.

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress adopted on March 30 the amended Annex I and Annex II to the HKSAR Basic Law, which concerns methods for the selection of the HKSAR chief executive and the formation of the Legislative Council (LegCo). A government spokesman said it is incumbent upon the HKSAR government to implement the new electoral system that accords with the actual situation in Hong Kong by way of local legislation.

The bill will be introduced into the LegCo for the first reading and second reading on Wednesday.

The Government will fully complement the work of the LegCo in scrutinising the bill to strive for its early passage so as to kick start the extensive preparatory work for the elections, the spokesman said. Three major elections of the Election Committee, the seventh LegCo and the sixth chief executive will be held on September 19, December 19, 2021 and March 27, 2022, respectively.

HKSAR chief executive officer Carrie Lam said that the HKSAR Government will take action against illegal activities of manipulating or disrupting elections this time.