Han: Electoral reform to ensure 'patriots administering HK'

Necessary measures must be taken to improve the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in order to ensure that the SAR is governed mainly by patriots, Vice-Premier Han Zheng said while taking part in a panel discussion with National People's Congress deputies from Hong Kong on Sunday.

A draft decision to improve Hong Kong's electoral system, centering on reform and greater empowerment of the city's Election Committee as part of the overall system design, was submitted to the ongoing fourth session of the 13th NPC for deliberation.

Han, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said "patriots administering Hong Kong" is an integral part of "one country, two systems" and the improvement of Hong Kong's electoral system can ensure effective local governance and that the practice of "one country, two systems" always moves in the right direction.

While meeting Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Saturday, he called on the SAR to implement well the decision once it is made by the NPC, as well as the revisions to be made by the NPC Standing Committee to the annexes of the Basic Law.

Han also met Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region Ho Iat-seng on Saturday and joined a panel discussion with Macao deputies.

The moves to reform Hong Kong's electoral system have prompted some in the international community to question if these will undermine "one country, two systems" and Hong Kong's political system.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke at a news conference on Sunday in response to the doubts, saying that improving the electoral system of the HKSAR and implementing the "patriots administering Hong Kong" principle conform to the practical need to maintain "one country, two systems", as well as the long-term stability of the city.

It is also within the powers and responsibilities conferred on the NPC by the Constitution, which is fully constitutional and justified,he said.

Any country in the world will take allegiance to the motherland as a basic political ethic that must be observed by public officials or those who run for public office,Wang said.

While meeting the two chief executives, Han also recognized the two cities' efforts in the past year to prevent and control the pandemic, relieve people's hardships and restore the economy.

He said he hoped that Hong Kong would continue to make pandemic control its primary task and do a good job in all aspects of economic and social work.

He also expressed his hope that Macao would continues its pandemic control efforts on a regular basis and further improve the local legal system and organize well the election of Macao's seventh Legislative Assembly.

He said Macao should seize the opportunity brought by the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, a project supported by the central government, and actively promote diversified economic development.