A key step to ensuring patriots administer SAR: China Daily editorial

Sunday's Election Committee vote, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's first election under the revamped electoral system, is of great significance and will have far-reaching influence.

It represents an all-around implementation of the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong", an intrinsic part of the Basic Law of the SAR.

The fact that the election could be organized in an orderly way was fully driven home not only by the wide support it garnered from compatriots from all walks of life in Hong Kong, but also through its pertinence to the SAR's contingent needs to restore peace, order and stability.

It represents a new look, a new hope and a new future for the city.

If the positive momentum the election has accumulated can be sustained, it will mark another meaningful beginning for the city, which had been mired in months of chaos with foreign powers pulling the strings from behind the scenes. The National Security Law for Hong Kong helped sever those strings, plugging the institutional loopholes the foreign proxies had taken advantage of for too long to grab public power, and returning the city to stability.

The expansion of the new election committee from 1,200 seats to 1,500 seats means it can better represent the interests of the various sectors of Hong Kong. Different interest groups, under the prerequisite of patriotism, can now access wider channels to take part in public life.

A more representative and united election body means the selection of holders of public power, including lawmakers, will be better able to reflect the practical interests of the Hong Kong people, balance the interests of different groups and be immune to foreign interventions, which is in line with the fundamental interests of the SAR.

For too long, Hong Kong residents have seen the public organs of the SAR, including the Legislative Council and grassroots government departments, infiltrated and usurped by secessionists and pro-West activists. Under the guise of "democracy" and "freedom" they acted as puppets of foreign powers in a bid to make Hong Kong a foothold of the West in the Far East.

They would never admit that the nature of their activity is to hijack Hong Kong people's future under lofty banners to serve foreign politicians. Nor would they ever admit that having an Election Committee consisting of patriots, and letting patriots administer Hong Kong is the very first step to bringing true democracy and freedom to the city.

It is to be hoped that new members of the Election Committee can fulfill their responsibilities to the SAR and the country and earnestly exercise their democratic duties. They should be aware of the heavy price Hong Kong people have paid for the vote, and the hopes they have pinned on them to put an end to the unrest that has plagued the city.

The members of the Election Committee are expected to heed the people's voices and make sure the election of lawmakers and the executive body of the SAR can choose those most capable and responsible to lead Hong Kong out of its difficulties with the full support of the Chinese mainland.

Any foreign powers casting suspicion over the vote are showing their true colors and also their callousness toward the practical needs of the Hong Kong people.