New alliance launches campaigns to back electoral reform in HK

Citywide signature campaigns to voice support of the decision to improve Hong Kong's electoral system began on Thursday.

A new Hong Kong alliance established on Thursday and comprising representatives and associations from various sectors of Hong Kong society will also organize a series of seminars to explain to residents the necessity of the changes and amendments to the city's electoral system. The National People's Congress passed a decision to approve the changes on Thursday.

According to the campaign's website, over 37,000 people had signed up to support the changes as of 3 pm on Thursday. People who sign the online and hard-copy petitions need to provide names and the first four digits of their Hong Kong ID cards.

Speaking at a news conference, Tam Yiu-chung, convener of the alliance and a Hong Kong member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said on Thursday that the alliance firmly supports the decision of the nation's top legislature.

Tam said the changes that the National People's Congress approved to the city's electoral system will prevent anti-China forces that aim to destabilize the city and country from using Hong Kong's elections to infiltrate the special administrative region's governance team.

He urged residents to proactively participate in these activities and provide their suggestions on this regard.