CE pledges support for NPC decision on HK electoral reform

HONG KONG – Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said she and the governing team of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government would pledge staunch support for the top legislature's decision on improving the city's electoral system.

Her remarks came after the National People's Congress (NPC) adopted a decision on improving Hong Kong's electoral system on Thursday afternoon. The decision was passed by an overwhelming majority vote at the fourth session of the 13th NPC.

In a statement, Lam said the decision is fully constitutional and legal.

Lam said she and the SAR government would fully cooperate in facilitating the amendments and would press ahead with the necessary amendments to the relevant local electoral legislation.

She added the HKSAR government will provide the NPC Standing Committee its views on the composition of the five sectors of the Election Committee, which will be expanded and reconstituted, to ensure the committee is broadly representative and reflects the overall interests of Hong Kong's society.

"Upon the passage of the amendments to Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law by the NPCSC, the HKSAR government will enact the needed local legislation as soon as practicable, and conduct the relevant elections efficiently in light of the actual circumstances in Hong Kong, including the pandemic situation," according to the statement.

Hong Kong Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung and Justice Secretary Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah have expressed similar sentiments in separate statements.

Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, president of the Legislative Council, hopes that after the NPCSC has completed the relevant amendments, the executive authorities of the HKSAR will expeditiously present the draft local legislation to LegCo for scrutiny, so that the relevant elections can be held in an orderly manner in the next 12 months.

He also hopes that the government could make efforts to explain the relevant bills clearly to LegCo members and members of the public to ensure the smooth implementation of the new electoral system.

Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu said he fully supports the NPC's decision and will lead the disciplinary forces to fully cooperate and continue to fulfill resolutely the responsibility of safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and ensuring the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

Commissioner of Police Tang Ping-keung, Commissioner of Customs and Excise Hermes Tang, Director of Immigration Au Ka-wang, Commissioner of Correctional Services Woo Ying-ming, Director of Fire Services Joseph Leung and Controller of the Government Flying Service (GFS) Wu Wai-hung all expressed their full support for the NPC decision on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR for the interest of its residents.

In another statement, a spokesman for the HKSAR government said it welcomes the National 14th Five-Year Plan and will proactively integrate Hong Kong into the national development.

The fourth session of the 13th NPC on Thursday also approved the "Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035".

The spokesman expressed gratitude for the central government's support for the future development of Hong Kong in various key areas, according to the statement.