Cui Tiankai

Opinion | With patriots governing Hong Kong, ‘one country, two systems’ is guaranteed

Beijing’s decision to improve Hong Kong’s electoral system will ensure its stability and the healthy development of democracy

Reading Time:3 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

Hongkongers display the flags of China and Hong Kong in support of patriots governing Hong Kong, at Tamar Park on March 6. Photo: Xinhua

Cui Tiankai

Published: 1:00am, 15 Mar 2021Updated: 1:00am, 15 Mar 2021

The 4th session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) of China held recently made a decision to improve Hong Kong’s electoral system. The purpose is to provide an institutional guarantee for the principle of “patriots governing Hong Kong”, and ultimately for the long-term implementation of “one country, two systems”. To gain an accurate understanding, let me share with you the following perspectives.

First and foremost, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a subnational jurisdiction of China, whose political system, including the electoral system, shall be decided by the central government. The NPC is China’s top legislature. Its decision to improve Hong Kong’s electoral system fully accords with China’s constitution and the Basic Law of Hong Kong, and holds indisputable legitimacy and authority. In unitary states, it is a common constitutional provision and political practice for the central government to decide how local elections are held, and there is nothing to find fault with.

Many concerns have been raised about “patriots governing Hong Kong”, which I am afraid is hard to understand. A country’s citizens and, in particular, public servants should love their country – isn’t it the very least to be expected?

It is also common international practice to demand that people in public office pledge loyalty to their country. For example, in the United States, citizens need to swear allegiance to the state, and for those in public office, the requirement is more stringent. Hong Kong, as a Chinese SAR, shall be governed by people who love their country. I don’t see any problem with that.

05:13

Chinese premier addresses Hong Kong electoral changes, US-China relations, as ‘two sessions’ closes

On the other hand, because there are deficiencies in Hong Kong’s electoral system and because not all those in public office are patriots, some people have been able to exploit the situation. In recent years, especially since the violent protests in 2019, some forces have entered various government and legislative institutions via election and engaged in anti-China activities to disrupt Hong Kong’s social order.