New format LegCo election progressive evolution of 'one country, two systems': China Daily editorial

In a statement full of pride and prejudice, and totally groundless finger-pointing, five western countries expressed "grave concern over the erosion of democratic elements" in Hong Kong, because, obviously, they are not happy with the outcome of the Chinese Special Administrative Region's latest Legislative Council elections, which is actually the legitimate and rational choice of the Hong Kong people themselves.

The statement, issued by the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and the United States Secretary of State late on Monday, accused Sunday's election in Hong Kong of reversing the trend of free elections in which "candidates with diverse political views have contested".

By saying so, the five China-bashers just turned a blind eye to the fact that the 153 candidates competed, in an open and fair way, for the 90 LegCo seats in Hong Kong, with each of them holding different political views and having different social and political backgrounds.

No wonder they always make similar accusations. That is because in their eyes, there is only one fit-for-all pattern for democracy. More importantly, what they truly want is not democracy, but chaos in Hong Kong, as history has proven.

No matter what the China-bashers say about the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's revamped electoral system, one major takeaway from Sunday's Legislative Council election, the first since the changes were introduced, is that the new legislature will be better able to play its intended role.

Over recent years, anti-China and subversive forces in Hong Kong have managed to make LegCo a major platform for promoting their anti-China agenda. These subversives have wasted no opportunity to take important government bills hostage. By abusing their powers of investigation, summons and inquiry and proposing motions of no confidence, the so-called opposition members of LegCo have prevented the passage of many major policies that could have benefited Hong Kong's economy and improved people's lives.

With its newly introduced patriotism requirement for candidacy, the revamped electoral system has made the SAR's political ecology healthier by keeping those subversives at bay.

Improving the electoral system in Hong Kong was of profound importance to safeguard people's democratic rights and realize good governance. The amendments to the electoral system mean that gone are the days when LegCo could be paralyzed by radical elements. Most of the newly elected legislators, many of whom are young and new faces in the political arena, won on platforms promoting ways to improve people's livelihoods and solutions to social problems, rather than on divisive ideological ideas or slogans of dogma. The majority of the new and young legislators have also won over their supporters with their proven professional achievements and expertise.

Overall, the lineup of the new legislature indicates much broader representation than ever before. This diverse membership mix will ensure voices from all sectors and strata of society are heard, and all interests taken into consideration in the legislative process. Since upholding the Basic Law and pledging allegiance to the HKSAR are the legal requirements and prerequisites for standing for election or assuming public office, LegCo will no longer be riven by internal political conflict and strife.

Instead, it will be a venue for democratic debate on how to promote the SAR's long-term prosperity and the well-being of its residents. Contrary to the China-bashers' claims, Hong Kong doesn't need adversarial politics to vindicate the legitimacy of its electoral system. As the SAR's bitter experience of toxic politics over the past few years has proved, there is no one-size-fits-all template for democracy in the world. Hong Kong has adopted a version that dovetails with its actual situation.

The changes to the election system to ensure that Hong Kong patriots administer Hong Kong will guarantee that the SAR can exercise a high degree of autonomy and that its governance serves the fundamental interests of the Hong Kong people and the nation.