HK passes electoral laws for good governance

Hong Kong's passage of amendments to electoral laws has opened a new chapter of good governance in the special administrative region, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said on Thursday.

The office said this in a statement shortly after Hong Kong's legislature adopted the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021 in its third reading by the Legislative Council (LegCo).

The bill was first brought to lawmakers on April 14 after 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 region's chief executive and the formation of the LegCo.

The statement said LegCo managed to deliberate the amendment bill in less than two months with high quality and efficiency. Patriotic political groups, associations and people from all walks of life have shown support, contributing to the final passage of the bill with high votes. All this fully reflects the responsibility of the regional government, the LegCo and social communities to maintain constitutional order.

The bill, together with the national security law for Hong Kong and the public offices bill passed earlier this month that requires Hong Kong public officers to bear allegiance to the city, established a new order of "patriots governing Hong Kong".

Under this order, all those who aspire to take up public positions will firmly support the "one country, two systems" principle, respect central authorities and safeguard national sovereignty and security. Disorder that endangers the political stability will be effectively addressed and Hong Kong's democracy will march on a steady and healthy path.

The statement noted that it is the common responsibility of the SAR government and all sectors of Hong Kong's society to ensure the implementation of the new electoral system in Hong Kong.

The central government will give full support to the local government in strictly regulating electoral activities and cracking down on illegal acts so as to ensure smooth and orderly elections of the Election Committee, the LegCo and the chief executive, which are respectively scheduled for Sept 19 and Dec 19 this year and March 27, 2022.

"With the implementation of the national security law, the law on improving the electoral system, the country's 14th Five-Year Plan and the strategy to develop Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong's development will be sure to move from chaos to prosperity," the statement added.