Hong Kong Style Democracy II｜Organically combine meritocracy and democratic politics to develop democracy with Hong Kong characteristics

After the turmoil against the amendment bill in 2019, the central government deeply realized that there was a problem in the political development of Hong Kong. Judging from the Election Committee sub-sector elections and the Legislative Council general election held in December, as well as the upcoming Chief Executive election on May 8, many people are still worried that the democratic process in Hong Kong has been out of shape.

However, according to the white paper titled "Democratic Development in Hong Kong under "One Country, Two Systems" issued by the State Council Information Office on the day after the Legislative Council election last year, the white paper not only summarizes the journey of Hong Kong's democratic development from the British era to the electoral reform, but also clearly points out the democratic development of Hong Kong. The prospect even indicates that once the political issues are dealt with, the political reform will have conditions to restart.

The question is, at the critical juncture of the second half of "One Country, Two Systems", what kind of democracy is more applicable to Hong Kong?

Apart from guaranteeing "one person, one vote", what is the merit of "meritocracy" in the Mainland and Singapore?

"Hong Kong Style Democracy" In-depth Report Series No. 2

In the past, Hong Kong society had long been superstitious in the "big market, small government" mentality of "active non-intervention", and allowed capital to monopolize profits, resulting in deep-seated problems that were hard to come back. Most citizens failed to share the dividends of economic development. At the bottom, they can only live in expensive and small housing, let alone to achieve upward mobility.

Many people believe that as long as the dual universal suffrage of "one person, one vote" is implemented, people with lofty ideals can be successfully elected and many economic and people's livelihood problems can be solved. However, under the previous electoral system, even those who run Hong Kong through direct elections were elected to parliament. , it may not be able to improve governance efficiency - the establishment is often only submissive to the government, while the democrats are led by radical forces. contradiction.

Most citizens have not been able to share the dividends of economic development. Under the high cost of living and low wages, they can only live in expensive and small housing, let alone achieve upward mobility.

(Photo by Yu Junliang)

On December 22, 2021, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in Hong Kong held a briefing on the white paper "Democratic Development in Hong Kong under "One Country, Two Systems", reviewing and summarizing the history of democratic development in the Hong Kong SAR and explaining the prospects for democratic development in Hong Kong.

(China News Agency)

Regarding how Hong Kong's future democracy can achieve "dual universal suffrage", Zhang Bingliang believes that there are still many variables.

(Photo by Gao Zhongming.)

For details, please read the 314th issue of "Hong Kong 01" e-Weekly Newsletter (April 25, 2022) "

Hong Kong-style democracy series reports:

Hong Kong-Style Democracy Part 1 | Destroying the Myths of European and American Democracy and Exploring the Road to Elections in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Style Democracy II｜Organically combine meritocracy and democratic politics to develop democracy with Hong Kong characteristics

Hong Kong-Style Democracy Part 3｜Why did it go from "return of democracy" to "democratic rejection of the Communist Party" after democratization?

Hong Kong-Style Democracy Four｜The political reform effort was overthrown by a storm of amendments to the traditional pan-democracy and became the biggest loser