The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature adopted a decision on improving the electoral system of Hong Kong on Thursday (March 11). The methods for the selection of the Chief Executive and for the formation of the Legislative Council (LegCo) will be improved.

According to the decision, a candidate qualification review committee of the HKSAR shall be established. The Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR) shall improve the system and mechanisms related to qualification review, to ensure that the qualifications of candidates are in conformity with the Basic Law, the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR, which attracted attacks of the West that the amendment to the electoral system will violate the Basic Law and undermine democracy in Hong Kong.

(Photo:Xinhua)

But do these accusations hold water, or even have any legitimacy?

Allegiance to one’s motherland is not a Chinese invention

It is self-evident that no country in the world will allow traitors or insurrectionist to govern the country.

Just this year, in January, the House of Representatives launched an impeachment against Donald Trump of “incitement of insurrection”, accusing him of agitating for the U.S. Capitol riots. Democrats alleged that Trump exerted all his authority as the head of the state and the Commander-in-Chief to instigate a rebellion against the legislature, which is a grave crime. In fact, this is not only a political dispute, but also a legal issue. Section 4 of Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution says: “The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.” The House contended that considering Trump’s incitement action, he should be tried as a threat to national security, democracy, and the Constitution.

(On Jan 6, 2021, supporters of Donald Trump stormed the U.S Capitol. Four demonstrators and a policeman were killed. Photo: Xinhua)

Trump was acquitted of the charge in the end and recently expressed his willingness to run for president again in 2024, if Trump loses another election, who can guarantee that Trump will not foment his supporters to storm the Capitol one more time?

Historically, in order to prevent foreign forces from administering the US, thereby damaging the independence and sovereignty of the United States, the U.S. Constitution also stipulates that “No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President”, which means it is impossible for immigrants to run for President. You can see that the U.S. strictly screens the head of the state, trying to guarantee his/her allegiance to the country from all aspects.

As well as the president, all public officials in America should be patriots. Section Three of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says a person cannot run for Congress, President, Vice President, or any office, civil or military, if he or she has "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" against the state or has "given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof."

Even for average Americans, love of the country is an indispensable duty (In American schools, All students need to repeat the pledge of allegiance every day), and subversive activities are forbidden by law. In 2006, an American named Adam Gadahn was indicted for treason for making propaganda videos for al-Qaeda. Gadahn once appeared in some Qaeda videos in which he agitated Muslims and encouraged conduct that would lead to attacks in America.

Existing institutional deficiencies in Hong Kong

What some separatists committed in Hong Kong are far worse than the case mentioned above and which definitely demonstrate a betrayal of their country.

（Alvin Yeung)

In the turbulence over the amendment bill in 2019, anti-China forces openly instigated and carried out street riots, severely breaking down social order. Alvin Yeung, former member of the LegCo, publicly incited youngsters to commit violence, saying: "Being imprisoned makes life more wonderful." According to the data from Hong Kong Police, the overall crime figure in 2019 was a 9.2% increase from the previous year. The number of violent crimes such as arson and criminal destruction increased significantly, and an increasing number of arrested persons were of a younger, more impressionable age.

As one of the major industries of Hong Kong, tourism-related industries were hit hard by the chaos. The unemployment rate in the retail, accommodation and catering industries rose to 5.2% by the end of 2019, reaching the highest level in three years. Hong Kong's economy experienced its first recession in 10 years.

In July 2020, some local separatists and District Council members in Hong Kong also masterminded and implemented the so called "35+ primary election", avowedly out to use loopholes in Hong Kong’s electoral system and attempting to obtain a majority in the Legislative Council, so that they could kill all bills and budgets proposed by the Chief Executive. The ultimate purpose was to force the chief executive to resign and further paralyze the HKSAR government and LegCo, throwing Hong Kong back into chaos.

（Right:Nathan Law)

Nathan Law, a former member of LegCo, even turned to foreign countries and external forces, calling for sanctions on Hong Kong.

All these activities seriously jeopardized the constitutional order and severely disrupted social stability of Hong Kong. How can such insurrectionist be eligible to run for elected officials?

Although Oaths and Declarations Bill clearly states that all the officials in Hong Kong should pledge allegiance to the Basic Law and the HKSAR, so many elected officials violated their oath and put China's national security into jeopardy. It is obviously that there are loopholes and deficiencies in the existing electoral system in Hong Kong. Forceful reform must be conducted to allow only people who truly love their motherland to govern Hong Kong.

(an oath-taking ceremony in Hong Kong)

Does the central government interfere with Hong Kong affairs?

Some voices in the West accused that the NPC’s amendment to the electoral system has interfered in Hong Kong affairs and violated the Basic Law. In fact, if you read the Article 159 of the Basic Law, you will find it clearly states that the power of amendment of this Law shall be vested in the National People's Congress, the top legislature in China. As well as this, it is an indisputable fact that Hong Kong is a part of China, it is obvious that Hong Kong affair is China’s internal affair.

Moreover, the reform of the electoral system is still based on basic policies of China regarding Hong Kong.

(Hong Kong Handover Ceremony in 1997）

“Patriots governing Hong Kong” is not a new concept. At the time of the Sino-British negotiations in 1984, the central government had signed the basic policies of China regarding Hong Kong, which include "one country, two systems” and “the people of Hong Kong governing Hong Kong”.

Back in June 1984, Mr. Deng Xiaoping pointed out that there must be "some requirements or qualifications with regard to the administration of Hong Kong affairs by the people of Hong Kong. It must be required that patriots form the main body of administrators". According to him, "A patriot is one who respects the Chinese nation, sincerely supports the motherland's resumption of exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, and wishes not to impair Hong Kong's prosperity and stability." 

Loyalty to the country is just a fundamental principal for all electoral officials and the first step to bring Hong Kong politics back to the right track. That’s why despite some Western countries citing so-called "democracy" and "freedom" to attack the draft decision, Beijing's action to improve Hong Kong's electoral system has still won extensive support, both inside and outside the region, from those who truly care about Hong Kong's stability and development.

Source: Fact is Fact