"Patriots governing Hong Kong" is a fundamental principle that has a bearing on Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability

On January 27, 2021, President Xi Jinping stressed during his debriefing report by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: "To ensure the steady and far-reaching practice of 'one country, two systems', we must always adhere to the principle of 'patriots governing Hong Kong'. This is a fundamental principle that concerns national sovereignty, security and development interests and Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability. This important exposition points out the extreme importance of upholding and implementing the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong", is a high refinement of the practical experience of "one country, two systems" since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, and is also a profound revelation of the practical law of "one country, two systems", which points out the direction for revising and improving Hong Kong's election system and establishes important guiding principles.

"Patriots governing Hong Kong" is the proper meaning and core essence of the "one country, two systems" principle, and is a basic political ethic and political rule after Hong Kong returns to the motherland, becomes a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China, and is incorporated into the national governance system. "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" means that patriotic Hong Kong people govern Hong Kong, that is, "patriots govern Hong Kong." To ensure that "one country, two systems" is fully and accurately implemented in Hong Kong, those who govern must be staunch patriots. The fact that power is in the hands of patriots and is a universally applicable rule around the globe is a matter of course. In the political structure of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, those who hold important positions, hold important powers, and shoulder important governance responsibilities must be staunch patriots.

In the face of the new situations, new problems, and new challenges that have emerged in the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong in recent years, it is imperative to get to the bottom of the major issue of "patriots governing Hong Kong."

On 30 March 2021, the 27th Session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress unanimously adopted the newly revised Measures for the Election of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Annex I to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the Methods for The Selection and Voting Procedures for the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Annex II to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, which will come into effect on 31 March 2021. This is a systematic revision of the two methods for the selection of the chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Legislative Council made by the NPC Standing Committee in accordance with the authorization of the "Decision of the National People's Congress on Improving the Electoral System in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" and in order to fully implement the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong." This demonstrates the firm determination and common will of the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country, including Hong Kong compatriots, to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests and safeguard the constitutional order of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The improvement of Hong Kong's election system by the NPC and its Standing Committee will help implement the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong" and ensure that the practice of "one country, two systems" will move more steadily and further in the right direction.

The improved electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will focus on the restructuring and empowerment of the Election Commission. This new arrangement for the election system conforms to the provisions of the Constitution, the Hong Kong Basic Law, and the relevant decisions of the National People's Congress, conforms to the actual conditions of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, effectively enhances the broad representation and balanced participation of the democratic electoral system, strengthens the effective cooperation between the executive and the legislative, and better reflects the overall interests and fundamental interests of Hong Kong society, is conducive to improving the efficiency of governance, and provides a solid, stable, safe, and reliable institutional guarantee for "patriots governing Hong Kong."

"The bauhinia blossoms are blooming, and the tide of the Xiangjiang River is rising to a new voyage." With the vigorous support of the central government and the mainland of the motherland, and under the leadership of the rulers of Hong Kong with patriots as the mainstay, The Hong Kong citizens have made concerted efforts to concentrate on construction and wholeheartedly seek development; all kinds of deep-seated contradictions and problems that have plagued Hong Kong for a long time will be more qualified to be effectively resolved, and the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong will certainly glow with new vigor and vitality.

Source: Qiushi Network