Wang Chen, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, gave a keynote speech on Wednesday at a meeting of the Hong Kong NPC Deputy Election Committee. The committee will elect Hong Kong deputies to the next-term NPC. In his speech, Wang reiterated the NPCSC's expectations for regional NPC deputies as well as the central government's determination to safeguard the country's sovereignty, security and development interests, with zero tolerance for separatism and attempts by hostile forces to use Hong Kong as a launch pad to penetrate and sabotage China. His remarks are reminiscent of President Xi Jinping's advice and expectations for Hong Kong in his speech at the ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and inauguration of the Fifth-term HKSAR Government on July 1 here in Hong Kong.

The NPC is the highest body of State power of our country - the People's Republic of China. Like the provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions on the mainland, the Hong Kong and Macao SARs also select their own representatives to the NPC every five years.

The job of NPC deputies is very important, because they not only make national laws and supervise other State organs but also convey public opinions on various local and national issues to the central government as well as the NPCSC. In a way they serve as a bridge between their local community and the national legislature and central government.

Given the special nature of the SARs, Hong Kong and Macao's NPC deputies must have a strong sense of national unity while representing Hong Kong and Macao society. Their responsibility for safeguarding the nation's sovereignty, security and development interests is of utmost importance, because defeating separatism is crucial to the overall interests of the nation as well as of Hong Kong and Macao. That is why Wang reiterated the NPCSC's expectations for NPC deputies from the two SARs in his Wednesday speech.

NPC deputies are also obligated to help educate the local community they represent on national affairs and the responsibilities of Chinese citizens residing in Hong Kong and Macao, particularly regarding the fight against all shapes and forms of separatism. At the same time they should offer their expertise to Hong Kong and Macao's efforts to integrate regional development into national development strategies. After all, the motherland is the only guarantee for the long-term prosperity and stability of the two SARs.

(HK Edition 11/23/2017 page8)