Patriots Ruling Hong Kong: In-depth Interview｜From the National Security Law to the Reform of the Electoral System, the CCP’s Logic of Ruling Hong Kong

weekly

Author: Wu Ting

2021-02-25 14:25

The last update date: 2021-02-25 14:25

Following the "Hong Kong National Security Law", Beijing has made major moves to address the issue of governing Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s existing electoral system, from the Chief Executive to the Legislative Council to the District Council, has been fully reformed. The two sessions are expected to be held in March. See the real chapter above.

Focusing on "patriots ruling Hong Kong" and the reform of Hong Kong's electoral system, as well as the CCP's logic behind these big moves, Hong Kong 01 interviewed Tian Feilong, a director of the National Society for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Advanced Research Institute, and associate professor of law.

This is the second part of the interview.

01: With the successive changes in the policy of governing Hong Kong, as well as major actions such as the "Hong Kong National Security Law" and the reform of the electoral system, it is indeed possible to see the political culture of the CCP based on this, and for Hong Kong people, there is an urgent need for the CCP Recognize.

Tian Feilong:

After the "Hong Kong National Security Law" and the electoral reform, Hong Kong people have a more intuitive understanding of the political culture, political morality, and political will of the Chinese Communist Party.

The Communist Party of China is definitely a party that does what it says and is responsible to the end. It is the political organization that finally sets the rules for "one country, two systems" and pays for "one country, two systems."

China, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, is the sole decision maker of Hong Kong's destiny in the 21st century.

In this sense, "one country" is destiny, and "two systems" is life.

It has been a hundred years since the founding of the Communist Party of China. For Hong Kong, there is an urgent need for a new understanding of the Communist Party and China.

(REUTERS)

Looking back, there is no need for such a mild Article 23 legislation in 2003. Now think about it. In comparison, are Hong Kong people more willing to accept the 2003 Ordinance?

Sometimes politics is indeed ironic. If you don't consider the other party's concerns at all, or the country's interests, the end result of blindly fighting to the end is to get the opposite.

The changes in the electoral system are the same.

This reflects that in the 20 years since the return of Hong Kong, the opposition has not only not become a "loyal opposition", but has never been politically mature.

01: History cannot be restored, and Hong Kong cannot be returned.

Based on today's reality, how should Hong Kong's democratic system move forward gradually?

Hong Kong’s electoral system will not be the Western-style electoral system that some Hong Kong people expect, but it will never become the same as that of Mainland China. Instead, it aims to improve the efficiency of government administration under the premise of maintaining the central leadership under "one country." The administrative-led democracy still has democratic elements, but it will increase the central and administrative-led elements. It may be defined as "administrative-led high-efficiency democracy."

Tian Feilong:

Xia Baolong clearly stated in his speech, "Hong Kong’s electoral system must not simply copy or apply foreign electoral systems. An electoral system that is in line with Hong Kong’s actual conditions and is conducive to maintaining national security and maintaining Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability is the best. System."

Note that Xia Baolong did not say that the universal suffrage system is the best system.

Deng Xiaoping doubted from the beginning, can universal suffrage really elect a chief executive who loves the country and Hong Kong?

Can universal suffrage really make Hong Kong prosper and stable?

This question was spoken by Deng Xiaoping, and the political consciousness and spirit of this question have been inherited.

Universal suffrage is certainly an ideal democratic model that Hong Kong people and Hong Kong people follow the West's self-righteousness. However, it has been tested in practice under "One Country, Two Systems", especially after some comparisons between China and the West after the outbreak of the epidemic. It is really life education.

People have to think about a question, what is the frame of reference for Hong Kong democracy?

Is it the original universal suffrage consistent with the West?

Still, although the goal of universal suffrage still exists, people pay more attention to the quality of democracy, the relationship between democracy and the country, and the increasingly close interaction and integration between "one country" and "two systems" in "one country, two systems."

Taking these factors into account, it is in line with Hong Kong's reality and national system to form a comprehensive framework for evaluating Hong Kong's democracy, not just a single Western standard such as one-person, one-vote universal suffrage.

This is the key to reflection and adjustment for Hong Kong democracy.

Therefore, Hong Kong people mainly have a necessary theoretical and institutional consciousness to produce a set of democratic evaluation standards that truly conform to one country, two systems.

This standard cannot simply follow Western democracy, but a good local democracy that integrates national factors, talented elements and Hong Kong's practical wisdom.

On January 6, 2021, the Capitol in Washington, USA was besieged by a large number of supporters of US President Trump, which shocked the world and forced people to rethink the American democratic system.

(AP)

01: Indeed, just like the previous debate on the separation of powers and administrative leadership.

The Liaison Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China said it should be called the "separation of the three powers." The pan-democrats and the sectarians are still holding on to the "separation of the three powers." Use the interrogation process and practical effects to evaluate, rather than depending on what is called.

And to end disputes such as the separation of powers, it is only through practice, that is, to let the administrative leadership deserve its name.

Tian Feilong:

No matter what it is called, it is better to review the substance than the form of the argument, whether it has really effectively responded to and solved Hong Kong's problems.

If democracy cannot solve problems, democracy is useless.

The number of deaths in the United States due to the epidemic is more than 500,000. You also told me that this political system is successful and democratic. Isn't it ironic?

What does democracy mean?

Isn't the health and safety of the people the first?

What does human rights mean?

More than 500,000 people died from the epidemic in the United States. Where do you tell me where are democracy and human rights?

The American people can say that we finally voted for Trump. Can this be true accountability?

Who is really responsible?

Actually not.

01: For Hong Kong people, whether it is their understanding of democracy, the Chinese Communist Party, and their own situation, they are indeed facing the problem of active or passive turning.

Obviously, Beijing will not continue to pacify Hong Kong blindly in the past, but, as you said, it will be problem-oriented to set things right.

In this process, whether Hong Kong people feel powerless or politically realistic, they are actually expected and understandable.

For Beijing, it must also consider how to do a good job of communication and appreciate the mood of Hong Kong society.

Tian Feilong:

This is a constitutional moment of "one country, two systems." The enactment of the National Security Law and the structural amendment of the Hong Kong election system are a major political decision and an act of the sovereign.

In terms of Hong Kong's social sentiment, it is more necessary to actively seek understanding and adaptation.

Due to the limitation of many factors in the decision-making process, it is impossible to consider everyone. Just like the legislation of the National Security Law, it is impossible to explain every detail and the ins and outs of the decision to everyone.

What is needed at this time is the trust of Hong Kong people in the Communist Party of China and the country. I believe that this set of rational decision-making logic and process is fundamentally responsible for "one country, two systems" and Hong Kong's interests.

If the people in a place lack trust in the fundamentals of central decision-making, have emotions, and rebound, resist, resist, etc., these are certainly inevitable, but they also reflect the inherent disparity and contradiction between the local and the central authorities.

For the central government, what it has to do is to insist on doing the right thing based on the status of the sovereign, and to listen to the opinions of all sectors of Hong Kong society as much as possible in terms of procedures and methods.

For example, the current electoral system must guarantee the premise and general direction of "patriots ruling Hong Kong." In addition, Xia Baolong's speech made a very clear discussion of some systems and principles and goals, and how to connect to Hong Kong's electoral system. There is still room and value for discussion about which groups and individuals can be included in the category of patriots, and which groups, people, and parts of the Hong Kong democrats can be considered as candidates.

These have to face the Hong Kong society, and there are some open consultations and discussions, there can be system changes, different procedures and different plans can be negotiated.

In this way, we can achieve democratic participation as much as possible. When the system is implemented in the future, it will be understood and accepted by as many people as possible in Hong Kong society.

01: You mentioned that this is a constitutional moment of "one country, two systems". In fact, after the reform of the electoral system, "patriots ruling Hong Kong" has been settled, and "one country, two systems" has also entered 2.0. The relationship between the central government and Hong Kong is one country. The relationship with the two systems is returning to its original meaning.

Tian Feilong: In the past

, the well water did not

violate

the river water and it was ruled but not governed. The actual governance power was not in Hong Kong, but the agent in the UK.

The current patriots ruling Hong Kong is actually to set things right, anchoring the "one country" in "one country, two systems" to the People's Republic of China very clearly, and turning the symbolic sovereignty of "one country" in "one country, two systems" into a concrete , Visible and tangible governance authority.

This also illustrates a profound truth in political science. If there is only symbolic authority without specific control power, then a stable political order cannot be produced.

This is a political lesson.

Hong Kong must understand that the whole world is struggling to understand and adapt to the Chinese Communist Party and its contemporary China. How can Hong Kong be alone.

Why is Biden's policy adjustment so difficult?

Because he saw Trump’s failure, it was not Trump’s personal failure, but the United States’ failure.

The United States is unable to reconstruct the world without China's participation. If it cannot, it is impossible to completely decouple.

All the uniqueness of Hong Kong is not its own, it is Western, it is the legacy and remnants of the original Western system, and its connection with the West.

Hong Kong has a unique position in "One Country, Two Systems", but when the West becomes less important, Hong Kong's uniqueness will be flattened out.

If Hong Kong is obsessed with lying on the memory and merits of history, does not want to make progress, complains all day long, or even speculates on everything, it will not solve any problems at all, and the existing unique advantages will slowly fade or even disappear.

Therefore, 2019 is actually a year of spiritual transformation of "One Country, Two Systems". Hong Kong has completely come to its own spiritual opposite, and the country has decided to show its active role in reshaping "One Country, Two Systems" after reflecting on the past.

As a result, we have seen all the stories in the category of "one country, two systems" since 2020, and now the story of electoral system reform is unfolding.

Recommended reading:

Patriots ruling Hong Kong, in-depth interviews｜Safety overwhelms universal suffrage, Beijing does not need to amend the Basic Law

Patriots Governing Hong Kong·In-depth Interview｜Don't Do "All Colors" Who Is Xia Baolong Talking To

Patriots govern Hong Kong.

Interpretation | Hong Kong lacks a governor with a "big nation" mind?

01 News: Xia Baolongming sets the tone for "Patriots governing Hong Kong", heralding major changes in Hong Kong soon

To politicians-please reflect on the failure of "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong"!

Xi Jinping Hong Kong Version National Security Law Legislative Council Election Chief Executive Election