This Nov 17, 2016 photo shows the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Central, Hong Kong. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG – The 2021 Legislative Council General Election is a big step forward in the development of democracy with Hong Kong features, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the HKSAR said on Monday.
The election opens a new chapter for sound governance in the SAR and enduring success of “one country, two systems”, a spokesperson of the office said in a statement, extending warm congratulations on the successful conclusion of the election.
“This election is crucial in the transition period of Hong Kong from chaos to stability and prosperity and is of milestone significance to the implementation of the principle of ‘patriots administering Hong Kong’,” the spokesperson said, adding that it helps press the “fast-forward button” for all sectors in Hong Kong working for a better future.
Pointing out that the election is fair, equitable, open, secure and clean, the spokesperson said the voters’ democratic rights are fully respected and protected, demonstrating the broad representation, political inclusiveness, balanced participation and fair competition of the new electoral system of the SAR. “It proves that the LegCo under the new electoral system is not a ‘mono’, but a ‘stereo’, and ‘patriots administering Hong Kong” doesn’t mean uniformity, but diversity.”
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The election effectively reshapes the city’s electoral culture and is widely supported by all communities of Hong Kong society, the spokesperson said it will help the SAR out of the “pan-politicization” quagmire and develop high-quality democracy that fits Hong Kong’s reality.
Any attempts to vilify Hong Kong’s new electoral system and election results or to damage the development of democracy in Hong Kong will prove to be futile.
Spokesperson, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the HKSAR
Echoing the white paper “Hong Kong Democratic Progress Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems” issued by the State Council Information Office, the spokesperson said there was no democracy in Hong Kong under British colonial rule and the city ushered in a new era for democracy only after the Chinese government resumed the exercise of its sovereignty.
The Constitution and the Basic Law established the system of democracy in the SAR, and the central government has made great efforts to promote the development of democracy in Hong Kong.
“It is the Chinese government that designed, created, safeguarded and advanced Hong Kong’s system of democracy,” the statement said, adding that the successful seventh LegCo election has fully demonstrated the new atmosphere of democratic practice in Hong Kong.
The practices of democracy in various countries and regions have shown that there is no one-size-fits-all model for democracy, and no democracy in the world is the single correct form or superior to others, it said. “The key to democracy depends on if the people are the masters of their country and whether a democracy model can truly address people’s concerns.”
Saying that the new electoral system in Hong Kong has risen above the flaws of the “American-style democracy trap”, the spokesperson said it transcended the US democracy that emphasizes form over substance. “It embodies the true meaning of democracy — governments must keep in mind what their people need and how to make people’s lives better.”
The spokesperson strongly disapproved and condemned the deeds of some Western countries to smear the new electoral system by holding the so-called “Summit for Democracy” and releasing the “six-monthly report on Hong Kong” and incite anti-China elements to disrupt the electoral order during the election, and discredit the election results.
Besides seriously violating the international law principle of non-interference in others’ internal affairs and the basic norms governing global relations, it “gravely interferes with the orderly development of democracy in Hong Kong, and severely tramples on the democratic rights of Hong Kong people,” said the spokesperson.
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What kind of democracy paths Hong Kong takes and what kind of electoral system it implements are purely China’s internal affairs and brook no external interference, stressed the spokesperson, adding that China will not impose its own system and model on others, nor will it accept others’ condescending lecturing.
“Any attempts to vilify Hong Kong’s new electoral system and election results or to damage the development of democracy in Hong Kong will prove to be futile. Any moves to undermine Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability and curb China’s development will be strongly hit back by all the 1.4 billion Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots.”