Electoral reform well-received in HK

Support for a draft decision by the nation's top legislature on improving Hong Kong's electoral system poured in on Friday as various sectors of the city hailed the move as "necessary" and "of great significance" in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development.

They said the move will offer effective institutional protection of the future implementation of "patriots governing Hong Kong", which is the essence of the "one country, two systems" principle while bolstering the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's long-term stability and prosperity.

Praise for the effort came after the National People's Congress started deliberating on the draft decision at the opening meeting of its annual session on Friday. During the meeting, Wang Chen, a vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, said the improvements will center on the reconstruction and greater empowerment of the Election Committee, which picks Hong Kong's chief executive.

Following the meeting, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said in a statement that in recent years, the city has faced circumstances that are not conducive to the thorough implementation of "one country, two systems".

If such acts are not suppressed in time, radical disrupters may enter Hong Kong's political system through elections. This will harm the city's prosperity and stability and jeopardize "one country, two systems", Lam said. Thus, she fully supports the central government taking the lead to improve the electoral system.

Lam said the Hong Kong government will fully cooperate with the central government's initiative to amend relevant laws.

Tung Chee-hwa, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body, said the improvement of Hong Kong's electoral system would be an essential benefit for all Hong Kong residents and will offer institutional protection to its long-term stability.

Tung, who is also a former chief executive of the Hong Kong SAR, said that it has reached a key juncture and reform is a must, and that having patriots take prime public office positions is an internationally recognized principle. He said it's a collective wish of Hong Kong people to see the city governed by patriots.

Leung Chun-ying, another vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and also a former Hong Kong chief executive, warned that the city may never regain peace if the flawed electoral system remains.

He said the proposed improvement will enable the Election Committee to better fulfill its duty. He said he also expects the move will further improve the relationship between the city's executive and legislative authorities.

The central government's liaison office in Hong Kong and the Commissioners' Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the city also threw their weight behind the central authorities' move, saying that improving the electoral system in Hong Kong is a critical and urgent task to provide institutional safeguards for "patriots governing Hong Kong".

Hong Kong Legislative Council President Andrew Leung Kwanyuen said an improved electoral system will clarify Hong Kong's constitutional order, form a peaceful and rational legislature and reduce unnecessary internal friction and contradictions.

The central government has been understanding and open to different views of the Hong Kong community, said Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, adding that the legislature will continue to present diversity with the improved electoral system.

In a statement, the Macao Special Administrative Region government said that Macao has been enjoying a good political atmosphere with "patriots governing Macao" thanks to the establishment of an electoral system suitable for the city.

It is the responsibility of all Macao residents to consolidate the "patriots governing Macao" concept, it said.