China’s passage of electoral reforms in Hong Kong will also benefit thousands of Filipinos working there, who will be provided with a “more stable socio-political environment”, and predictable business climate, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said on Thursday.
Huang made this comment several hours after the parliament in Beijing passed a resolution overhauling Hong Kong’s electoral system, and implementing what it described as "patriots governing Hong Kong" that would ensure long-term stability, prosperity, and steady implementation of "One Country, Two Systems".
“I believe that the improving of the electoral system of the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) will not only provide a more peaceful and stable social environment for the Filipinos in Hong Kong but also create a more stable political environment and a more predictable business environment for the enterprises from all the countries including the Philippines. Hong Kong's tomorrow will be better,” the Chinese envoy said in a statement.
Over 200,000 Filipinos are working in Hong Kong, many of them in the service sector.
Huang explained that the purpose of improving the electoral system in the HKSAR was “to make sure the democratic system in Hong Kong moves forward more healthfully and smoothly.”
“The implementation of ‘patriots governing Hong Kong’ principle and the improvement of Hong Kong electoral system will help Hong Kong shift from chaos to stability, eliminate the worries of international community on the social chaos of Hong Kong and fully serve the interests of all parties,” he said.
HONG KONG CHARACTERISTICS
According to Huang, among the “improvements” made in Hong Kong’s electoral system were as follows: the overall design will be centered around the reformation and greater empowerment of the Election Committee of the HKSAR; the size, composition and formation method of the Election Committee will be adjusted and improved; the Chief Executive will continue to be elected by the Election Committee; the Election Committee will be entrusted with the new function of electing a relatively large share of Legislative Council members and directly participating in the nomination of all candidates for the Legislative Council; through the Election Committee, the balanced and orderly political participation will be expanded and broader representation ensured in the Hong Kong society; relevant elements of the election will be adjusted as appropriate, and a mechanism of qualification review will be established throughout the entire process.
“This design is aimed to form a new democratic electoral system suited to Hong Kong’s realities and with Hong Kong characteristics,” he said.
The Chinese diplomat added that the new electoral system not only respected the democratic rights of the public but also “safeguards national sovereignty, security and development interests.”
On top of that, he said it also prevented anti-China radical protesters from destabilizing Hong Kong, and political agents of anti-China international forces from entering the HKSAR authorities.
ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS
Over the nearly 24 years since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Huang maintained that China has stayed committed to the principles of "One Country, Two Systems" and "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" with a high degree of autonomy.
“As a result, the practice of "One Country, Two Systems" has been a universally recognized success, Hong Kong's political democracy has been gradually advanced, and Hong Kong citizens enjoy unprecedented rights under the law,” he noted. However, in recent years since the turbulence over proposed legislative amendments in 2019 started, Huang noted that anti-China troublemakers in the city have colluded with external hostile forces, openly advocated "Hong Kong independence", and sowed trouble in Hong Kong.
With the chaos that proved there were obvious loopholes and deficiencies in Hong Kong’s existing electoral system, the envoy said it was important to take necessary steps to improve the system, and remove existing institutional deficiencies, and risks to ensure the administration of Hong Kong by Hong Kong people with patriots as the main body.
“This, in turn, will ensure effective and law-based administration in the HKSAR and keep the implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" always on the right track,” he said.
Ambassador Huang stressed that, as China’s SAR, Hong Kong must be governed by the patriots which is a fundamental ethic being practiced around the world.
“Hong Kong is part of China and its electoral system could be classified as China’s local electoral system. How it is designed, developed, or improved is entirely China’s internal affairs,” he said.