Injecting strong momentum into Hong Kong’s governance and revitalization – experts speak highly of Hong Kong’s new District Council elections

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, December 12, Title: Injecting strong momentum into Hong Kong’s governance and revitalization—Experts spoke highly of Hong Kong’s new District Council election

Xinhua News Agency reporters Wang Chenghao, Wang Qian and Liu Huan

The seventh District Council election of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was successfully held recently. This is the first District Council election after the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region improved its regional governance system and reshaped the District Council system. Many experts pointed out that the new district council system complies with public opinion and is advanced and superior. This district council election was enthusiastic and orderly, presenting a new look and is of great significance. I believe that the new District Council will definitely improve the level of regional governance in the SAR and work with all walks of life to inject strong momentum into Hong Kong’s governance and revitalization.

Since May this year, the Hong Kong SAR has amended relevant laws to implement the proposed plan to reshape the district council system. On July 10, the “District Councils (Amendment) Ordinance 2023” was gazetted and came into effect. Compared with the district council system before the reshaping, experts believe that the new system has cleared up the source, closed the previous loopholes, pushed the district council back on track, and restored the nature and positioning of a non-governmental regional organization stipulated in the Basic Law.

Liu Zhaojia, consultant of the National Association for Hong Kong and Macao Studies, pointed out that according to the new district council system, the successful formation of the new district council marks the completion of the reshaping of Hong Kong’s governance structure and the basic realization of the principle of “patriots governing Hong Kong”, which will lay the foundation for the steady development of Hong Kong in the future. Democracy with Hong Kong characteristics that is consistent with “one country, two systems” and the Basic Law has laid a solid foundation.

Tian Feilong, deputy dean of the Law School of the Minzu University of China, pointed out that the Hong Kong District Council once became a hotbed for anti-China disruptors and external forces to carry out grassroots mobilization and “color revolution”. The new system plugs this risk loophole, corrects evil and eliminates evil, so that District councils return to the essence and responsibilities of district services.

Experts said that the district council election was completed in a fair, just, safe and orderly manner, which not only demonstrated healthy competition, rationality, pragmatism and constructive electoral culture, but also allowed the principle of “patriots governing Hong Kong” to be implemented in the SAR The “last mile” of governance.

Li Huan, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Research Institute of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said that “patriots governing Hong Kong” is the core essence of “one country, two systems”. This election fully implements the principle of “patriots governing Hong Kong”, and the new district council will recruit people from Patriots from different backgrounds, classes, and professions have enhanced the broad representativeness of district councils, more comprehensively reflected public opinion, fully demonstrated the advanced nature and superiority of democracy with Hong Kong characteristics, and opened a new chapter in improving Hong Kong’s governance system and improving governance efficiency.

Tian Feilong said that the new district council election reflects the rational, peaceful and normative orientation of democratic elections that focus on policy issues. At the same time, patriot candidates have a broad spectrum, fierce competition has emerged in some sectors and constituencies, the accuracy and effectiveness of policy debates have been improved, and citizens’ understanding and recognition of the new system have been deepened.

On January 1, 2024, the new District Council will begin to perform its duties. Experts believe that this election has produced a “qualitative and patriotic District Council”, which meets the expectations of the general public. It will become the “cradle” of Hong Kong’s political and governance talents, and become a community dedicated to serving the grassroots, collecting and reflecting public opinion, and promoting and implementing government policy measures. An important platform that builds a bridge of communication between the SAR government and citizens.

“Hong Kong’s new district councils have re-established a model of high-quality democracy.” Secretary-General of the Hong Kong Higher Education Council, Chow Man-kang, believes that the new system has further opened up a whole-process orderly democratic path that is in line with Hong Kong’s reality, and the district councils produced are in line with Hong Kong’s reality. The overall interests of society and the broad expectations of citizens. The new district council will cooperate more perfectly with other institutions in Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” system to form a more efficient governance system.

Liu Siu-ka pointed out that this district council election has strengthened the connection between the SAR government and society, adding experience and enhancing mutual trust for future cooperation between the two in relevant fields. At the same time, the SAR government and patriotic forces actively participated in the publicity and mobilization work of the election. The patriotic forces showed full unity, which is of positive significance to the good governance of Hong Kong and the stability and long-term implementation of “one country, two systems” under the pattern of “patriots governing Hong Kong” in the future.

Looking forward to the future, Professor Chen Hongyi of the Law School of the University of Hong Kong said that he believes that district councilors who love the country and Hong Kong will serve the grassroots with heart, comprehensively improve the level of governance in Hong Kong, and make every effort to promote Hong Kong’s pace of governance and prosperity to become more stable and progressive. Fast, enhance citizens’ confidence in Hong Kong’s future, and move Hong Kong towards a better and brighter future.

[Editor in charge: Yan Yujie]