Pooled efforts expected to deepen reforms in Hong Kong with new legislature elected

HONG KONG -- The election of the eighth-term Legislative Council (LegCo) of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has concluded, with the results for all 90 seats announced early on Monday.

It was the second LegCo election held after the implementation of the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" and the improved electoral system. The election was also held less than two weeks after a deadly fire broke out in a residential complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po.

HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee on Monday said the successful conclusion of the LegCo election as scheduled reflects Hong Kong's adherence to and respect for the constitutional order and the rule of law.

Candidates actively participated in 39 open election forums, engaging in a high-quality, high-standard and healthy competition based on the principle of broad representation, balanced participation and fair competition, he noted.

Lee said that he was confident that members of the new-term LegCo will actively engage with the community and various sectors, better understand public opinion, and lead the deepening reforms of Hong Kong together with the HKSAR government to create a shared future.

Noting that the Hong Kong community has together gone through this difficult period brought by the Tai Po fire, he expected the eighth-term LegCo members to join hands with the HKSAR government to undertake support and recovery work following the tragedy.

"Through initiating debates, promoting the review and updating of legislation, and driving systemic reforms, we will make Hong Kong a safer city where residents could live with greater peace of mind," Lee said.

"For my campaign, I visited many schools and talked to educators. Their passion and resolve impressed me a lot," said reelected LegCo member Tang Fei. This inspired him to speak up for Hong Kong's educators and seek improvement for the sector, Tang said in a social media post.

The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR and the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR congratulated the successful holding of the LegCo election.

This election has highlighted the advantages of the "one country, two systems" policy and the advanced and superior nature of the new electoral system, said a spokesperson for the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR.

It is of great significance for Hong Kong to achieve good governance, accelerate its pace to thrive and maintain long-term prosperity and stability, the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR said that the election provides strong support for post-disaster recovery and Hong Kong's resolute progress.

Foreign forces and anti-China elements had attempted to create chaos by taking advantage of the Tai Po fire, the spokesperson noted, adding that all attempts to disrupt or undermine the LegCo election are doomed to be futile.

"Neither anti-China forces seeking to destabilize Hong Kong nor external interfering forces can halt the pace of Hong Kong's high-quality democratic development, nor can they reverse the overriding trend of a thriving Hong Kong," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson emphasized that the office will, as always, fully support the HKSAR government in governing in accordance with the law, to safeguard Hong Kong's long-term prosperity, stability, and long-term peace and security.