01 view
Written by: Commentary Editing Room
2021-03-17 06:30
Last update date: 2021-03-17 06:30
The National People's Congress last week authorized the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to amend the "Basic Law" annex to revise Hong Kong's election system.
Zhang Xiaoming, executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, was in Hong Kong this week to listen to opinions from all walks of life.
One of the key points of the amendment is the composition of the Legislative Council, that is, the distribution of seats for direct elections, functional constituencies, and election committees.
When Wang Chen, vice chairman of the National People's Congress, explained the draft amendments, he mentioned that the Election Committee would produce a "larger percentage" of legislators.
However, the official decision of the National People's Congress last week only stipulates that 90 members of the Legislative Council shall be "elected separately through three methods: election committee elections, functional group elections, and direct district elections." It does not specify the specific distribution of seats.
Dialectical and non-linear to avoid too much
Some conservatives may think that the more seats on the Election Committee, the better, but the composition of the Legislative Council should not be simply understood in a linear manner.
The design of the political system must be balanced so as not to be too late.
Just as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has always been a product of dialectics, it must respect the sovereignty of a country while also taking into account the differences between the two systems. The political system not only includes the central government's overall governance power, but also guarantees Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy.
In fact, this time authorized by the National People’s Congress, the NPC Standing Committee’s amendment to the Basic Law’s annex has fully demonstrated the central leadership’s leadership in the development of Hong Kong’s political system.
Hong Kong society should have realized that Hong Kong is not an independent country, not a political election with sovereignty, but an election under "one country, two systems," and its system needs to comply with national regulations.
At the same time, from the formulation of the "Hong Kong National Security Law" by the central government to the revision of the electoral system, Hong Kong society has also realized the central sovereignty and the red line.
"He Li Fei" not only needs time to digest political changes, but also repairs the torn space.
If the legislative amendments are only intended to ensure the political stability of the Legislative Council and ignore the voices of the mainstream of society, it will only be difficult to unite the majority of society, and in the end the gains will outweigh the losses.
Unite the mainstream of the society and maintain stability
In Hong Kong's broad political spectrum, the broad masses of "peace, justice, and non-compliance" and brave sects are originally different groups. The former does not intend to challenge national sovereignty, nor does it support radical violence.
It has been more than a year since the anti-amendment law conflicts. All walks of life should step out of the excitement and take a rational look at the voices and demands of different groups.
Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, recently pointed out that as long as "draw a clear line with anti-China and Hong Kong elements", people with "prejudices and prejudices against the country and the mainland" can also "actively participate in the governance of Hong Kong." "He Li Fei" and the moderate democrats are not enemies, but members of Hong Kong.
When the late national leader Deng Xiaoping met with the Hong Kong National Day delegation in Beijing in October 1984, he said: "The people elected by Hong Kong people to manage Hong Kong are appointed by the central government, not sent by Beijing. To choose this kind of person, Of course, there must be left-wing people, as few as possible, but also right-wing people. It is best to choose more people in the middle. In this way, people from all walks of life will feel more comfortable. To deal with these problems, the central government will focus on the big picture. Stick to the small section." The "middle man" and "someone on the right" mentioned by Deng Xiaoping, of course, also include moderates who sympathize with the demonstrators today but do not intend to challenge national sovereignty.
Therefore, our political system must consider the overall situation, absorb moderate voices, and accommodate more people.
The restructuring is not to punish the people of Hong Kong, but only for the sake of "one country, two systems" to achieve stability.
The late national leader Deng Xiaoping once said that those who manage Hong Kong "better choose more people in the middle", and "people from all walks of life will feel better."
(Profile picture)
According to the decision of the National People's Congress, the newly established Qualification Review Committee will be responsible for reviewing and confirming the qualifications of candidates, and those who are eligible must also be nominated by the Election Committee.
In other words, these two mechanisms can not only ensure that candidates uphold the Basic Law and the constitutional principles of "One Country, Two Systems", but also enable candidates to gain political recognition from more people. They have been able to exclude radical voices and separatist forces from the authority. outer.
Under this major premise, the composition of the Legislative Council should be loose rather than tight, and it should show its inclusiveness.
The rumored "234" plan is undoubtedly more domineering.
Although it can demonstrate the central government's overall control and leadership over amendments, it unnecessarily weakens the political influence of directly elected seats and functional constituencies, making the Legislative Council almost controlled by members of the Election Committee.
The "234" plan will neither receive the support of mainstream "peace, rationality, and non-compliance", nor leave room for a positive understanding of "one country, two systems." In the end, the gains outweigh the gains.
Reform for Good Governance, Rebuilding Political Mutual Trust
In contrast, the "333" plan allows direct elections, functional constituencies and election committees to occupy 30 seats each.
Compared with the current arrangement of 35 seats each for direct elections and functional constituencies, the "333" plan is already quite strong.
But it also allows the three types of parliamentarians to sit on an equal footing. In particular, government bills require the support of more than half of the parliamentarians to pass. The support of directly elected and functional constituency parliamentarians retains a certain degree of political influence.
Therefore, the "333" plan will provide more space for the society to recognize and understand the intention of the central government's amendment to the regulations, and it will also help the "harmony, justice, non-profit" and the central government to rebuild political mutual trust.
From a macro perspective, revising the electoral system is only the first step to restore the stability of the Legislative Council and exclude street politics from the power system.
But to truly lead Hong Kong towards good governance, there are still second and third steps, including that the chief executive and accountable officials must take responsibility and reform the deep-seated structural contradictions in Hong Kong.
The populist voices used to rise in the wind, precisely because Hong Kong's society and economy are full of ills, and the government is incapable of governance.
So when the government can achieve good governance, it will also help society to have a positive understanding of "one country, two systems."
From this perspective, officials and establishments must not think that they can continue to be mediocre and lazy. The truth is just the opposite. They will no longer be able to accuse others in the past and will face more direct and comprehensive spurs from the society.
Wu Qiubei's "522" plan will only create contradictions and conflicts
The legislative council reorganization plan "333" better reflects Deng Xiaoping's spirit than "234"
The "234" reorganization of the Legislative Council is not a good plan
The Patriots Ruling Hong Kong Legislative Council 01 Viewpoint Zhang Xiaoming