Staff members work at a counting station in Hong Kong, south China, Sept 19, 2021. (LUI SIU WAI / XINHUA)

HONG KONG – The successful holding of the 2021 Election Committee's subsector ordinary elections in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region marked a major step in Hong Kong's democratic development with its own characteristics, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR said on Monday morning.

The Election Committee elections were held on Sunday, in which 1,448 new members were elected.

The elections fully implemented the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" and demonstrated the advantages of Hong Kong's new electoral system, the office said in a statement while extending congratulations to the successful holding of the elections, which were the first major elections in Hong Kong after it returned to stability from chaos.

The candidates in the 2021 Election Committee's subsector ordinary elections in Hong Kong put forward their election platforms to reflect the demands of their industries, resolve economic and livelihood problems, promote social progress 

The HKSAR government organized the elections in strict accordance with the law, and the entire election process, including voter registration, candidate nomination, campaigning, vote casting and ballot counting, was conducted in a fair, just and open manner, the office said.

The candidates put forward their election platforms to reflect the demands of their industries, resolve economic and livelihood problems, promote social progress and Hong Kong's integration into the national development, and had in-depth exchanges and interactions with the general public, the office said, adding that they shouldered the responsibility of speaking for voters and making suggestions for Hong Kong.

Registered voters actively participated in the elections, exercised their voting rights in accordance with the law, and expressed the public will by casting the ballots, which demonstrated their recognition to and support for the new electoral system, the office said.

A resident leaves after casting his ballot at a polling station at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Hong Kong, south China, Sept 19, 2021. (WANG SHEN / XINHUA)

The newly elected members of the Election Committee come from all walks of life in Hong Kong and are broadly representative, reflecting the advantage of balanced participation of the new electoral system, the office said.

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The new members include HKSAR deputies to the National People's Congress, HKSAR members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and members of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR. Academicians, university presidents, business leaders, professionals, and ordinary laborers such as fishermen, farmers, drivers, tour guides and workers are also included.

Representatives of members of area committees, district fire safety committees, district fight crime committees, grassroots associations, small- and medium-sized enterprises, and associations of Hong Kong residents in the mainland are included in the Election Committee for the first time, which fully demonstrates that the new electoral system effectively represents the interests of all sectors of Hong Kong society, while safeguarding the interests of the country and Hong Kong's overall interests, the office said.

A poll said that nearly 70 percent of the respondents believe the elected members will speak for the industries and Hong Kong, and the public opinion showed that the elections encourage participation from different stakeholders to reflect diverse views and serve the overall interests, the office said.

The office said it is fully confident that the new Election Committee will perform its duties well and the HKSAR will usher in a new era of good governance.

As the first successful practice of the new electoral system, the Election Committee elections set the political rules of "patriots administering Hong Kong, and anti-China disruptors out," which will lead Hong Kong out of the "pan-politicization" whirlpool and help Hong Kong build a rational electoral culture, the office said, adding that not only democracy takes a solid step forward but also sound governance becomes truly possible.

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The office said it hopes Hong Kong will regard the elections as a starting point to gradually get back on track.

With capable patriots elected and disruptors out, various sectors in Hong Kong will be able to jointly accelerate Hong Kong's development and build a better future under the new electoral system, the office said.