Xinhua Commentary: Time to develop new democratic electoral system with Hong Kong characteristics

2021-03-06 10:05:17 GMT2021-03-06 18:05:17(Beijing Time) Xinhua English

BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- China's national lawmakers are considering measures to ultimately form in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) a new democratic electoral system suited to Hong Kong's realities and with Hong Kong characteristics.

A draft decision on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR was submitted to the ongoing fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress, the top legislature, for deliberation.

Over the past few years, the anti-China, destabilizing forces and radical localists in Hong Kong -- with the support from external forces -- have been taking advantage of the long-standing loopholes in the HKSAR's electoral system to enter its governance structure. They even attempted to manipulate elections in a bid to grab the power to administer Hong Kong.

Such activities put China's national sovereignty, security and development interests into serious jeopardy and severely disrupted social stability of the HKSAR. Therefore, there should be no delay in improving HKSAR's electoral system.

As Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China, the central authorities hold a leading role in and have the power of decision on the region's political system and political structure, including its electoral system.

Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the central authorities have been fostering the region's democratic system with unswerving determination and utmost sincerity. Meanwhile, the central authorities have strived to ensure that Hong Kong residents can fully exercise their democratic rights. All these remain unchanged.

Improving the HKSAR's electoral system is a measure to safeguard the sound and smooth development of Hong Kong's democratic system within the institutional framework of "one country, two systems," and on the right track which is in line with the Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law.

It is hoped that the general public of Hong Kong will fully understand and recognize the significance and sincerity of the central authorities' efforts in facilitating the improvement, voice their support and work together to thwart the political manipulation plotted by anti-China disruptors and the foreign forces behind the scene.

Taking into full consideration the practical needs of improving the electoral system in Hong Kong and the specific situation in the city, the central authorities will no doubt form a new democratic electoral system suited to Hong Kong's realities and with Hong Kong characteristics ultimately. Enditem

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