Hong Kong SAR elects 36 deputies to national legislature

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Thursday elected 36 deputies to the 14th National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature, from among 42 qualified candidates.

The newly elected members pledged to earnestly serve the people's interests at the national platform and enable the city to make greater contributions to the country.

During the electoral conference's second plenary session, members cast their votes anonymously.

Five backup deputies were also named at the conference in the event of any vacancy.

HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, also standing chairman of the presidium of the electoral conference, presided over the plenary session.

The election result was submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for final verification. Upon its approval, each deputy will serve a five-year term in the country's top legislature starting in 2023.

Yang Zhenwu, secretary-general of the NPC Standing Committee who came to Hong Kong to preside over the election, said the electoral process was open, fair and impartial, which will be recognized and affirmed by the Hong Kong community.

Yang also hoped they can give full play to the unique advantages of serving as the HKSAR's NPC deputies under the "one country, two systems" policy, and offer more wisdom in implementing and improving the policy.

He voiced confidence that the newly elected deputies will carry forward the tradition of patriotism, setting a good example for adhering to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law of the HKSAR, and fully implementing the "one country, two systems" principle, and swearing allegiance to the People's Republic of China and the HKSAR, so as to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and make new and greater contribution to national rejuvenation, as well as to Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability.

Among the 36 new Hong Kong SAR deputies, 15 are incumbent NPC deputies, including Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Stanley Ng Chau-pei, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions; Chan Yung, chairman of the New Territories Association of Societies; veteran cultural and art expert Ma Fung-kwok, and legal pundit Chan Man-ki.

New faces include lawmaker Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, who represents the sports, performing arts, culture and publication sectors; Starry Lee Wai-king, chairperson of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, and Chen Chung-nin, vice-chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.

Among the 36 deputies, Ip and Fok raked in the highest and the second-highest votes of 1,254 and 1,248, respectively.

After being elected, Lee said she will fulfill her promise to fully take advantage of the principle of "one country, two systems" in her term.

Being elected as NPC deputy for a third time, Li Yinquan, director of China Merchants Capital Co, said he was confident in the new NPC deputies' abilities, promising to further bridge Hong Kong and the mainland to create better opportunities for the development of Hong Kong companies.

Successfully seeking reelection, Tommy Li Ying-sang, life honorary chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong, said that he was delighted to see young candidates being elected and expressed hopes they would lead young people in Hong Kong to be more deeply engaged in national political affairs and make greater contributions to the country.

On Monday, Macao SAR's election conference elected 12 Macao deputies to the 14th National People's Congress from among 15 candidates.