[imtoken官方网站]Full Text: Explanations on the Draft Decision

（Translation）

Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of

BEIJING， March5 （Xinhua） －－ A draft decision on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was submitted Friday to the fourth annual session of the13th National People＇s Congress （NPC） for deliberation．

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Entrusted by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress （NPC）， I hereby make the following explanations about the Draft Decision of the National People’s Congress on Improving the Electoral System of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region （SAR）．

Full text

The existing electoral system in the Hong Kong SAR was established in accordance with relevant provisions of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR， interpretations and decisions of the NPC Standing Committee， and relevant provisions of local laws in Hong Kong． Provisions of the Basic Law， including Articles45 and68， lay out the principles concerning the electoral system of the Hong Kong SAR， and Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law as well as relevant amendments make specific and express stipulations． Based on comprehensive analysis and assessment， central and state authorities deem it necessary to revise and improve the electoral system of the Hong Kong SAR at the State level， and mainly to revise the method for the selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR and the method for the formation of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong SAR． At the same time， in order to maintain continuity and stability of relevant systems of the Hong Kong SAR， the revisions to be made this time in improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong SAR may be limited to Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law， without revising the main body of the Basic Law． After serious consideration of various factors and discussions with relevant parties， central and state authorities propose a two－step approach， namely，“decision plus amendment”． In the first step， the NPC， in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution， the Basic Law， and the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR， makes the decision on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong SAR， which lays out the basic principles for revising and improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong SAR as well as the core elements of such revision and improvement． Meanwhile， the NPC authorizes its Standing Committee to amend Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law in accordance with the decision． In the second step， in accordance with the Constitution， the Basic Law， the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR， and the NPC decision， the NPC Standing Committee amends Annex I： Method for the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Annex II： Method for the Formation of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Its Voting Procedures of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR． The amended Annex I and Annex II will contain specific and express provisions on the new democratic electoral system of the Hong Kong SAR． After the amendment of Annex I and Annex II at the State level is completed， the Hong Kong SAR will amend relevant local laws accordingly．

The rioting and turbulence that occurred in the Hong Kong society reveals that the existing electoral system in the Hong Kong SAR has clear loopholes and deficiencies， which the anti－China， destabilizing elements jumped on to take into their hands the power to administer the SAR． To remedy the situation， it is important to take necessary steps to improve the electoral system and remove existing institutional deficiencies and risks to ensure the administration of Hong Kong by Hong Kong people with patriots as the main body． This in turn will ensure effective and law－based administration in the SAR and keep the implementation of One Country， Two Systems always on the right track．

Explanations on the Draft Decision of the National People’s Congress On Improving the Electoral System of

The National People’s Congress

Deputies，

Presented by Wang Chen

In implementing these overall requirements， it is imperative to observe the following important principles． First， fully and accurately implementing the policy of One Country， Two Systems under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy． It is imperative to uphold and improve the system and institutions of One Country， Two Systems， and ensure the administration of Hong Kong by Hong Kong people with patriots as the main body． It is imperative to integrate adherence to the principle of One Country with respect for the differences of Two Systems， and combine upholding the Central Authorities’ overall jurisdiction over the SAR with safeguarding a high degree of autonomy in the SAR， so as to provide well－established systemic guarantee for“patriots administering Hong Kong”． Second， firmly upholding sovereignty， security and development interests of the State． It is imperative to ensure that the State takes firm control over the improvement of the electoral system of the Hong Kong SAR， fully implement the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR， maintain overall social stability of the Hong Kong SAR， and resolutely prevent， stop and punish interference in Hong Kong affairs by foreign countries and external forces and their use of Hong Kong to conduct acts of secession， subversion， infiltration and sabotage． Third， administering Hong Kong in accordance with the law． It is imperative to maintain the constitutional order of the Hong Kong SAR enshrined in the Constitution and the Basic Law， improve the relevant electoral system and related mechanisms on the track of the Constitution and the Basic Law， and organize relevant elections in strict compliance with the Basic Law， the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR， relevant decisions of the National People’s Congress and its Standing Committee as well as local laws of Hong Kong， so as to improve the ability and competence of governance in accordance with the law． Fourth， acting in line with the actual circumstances of Hong Kong． It is imperative to develop a system of democratic elections that fits Hong Kong’s actual conditions and reflects the overall interests of the society． It is imperative to guarantee in accordance with the law the extensive and balanced political participation of the Hong Kong compatriots， and guarantee in accordance with the law the right to vote and the right to be elected which are lawfully enjoyed by Hong Kong’s permanent residents． It is imperative to unite all that can be united， and build extensive， positive energy in the Hong Kong society． Fifth， improving the governance efficacy of the Hong Kong SAR． It is imperative to improve the system under which the Chief Executive is responsible to the Central People’s Government， and maintain the executive－led governance structure and operational system of the Hong Kong SAR． It is imperative to support the Chief Executive， the executive authorities， the legislature and the judiciary in exercising power and performing duty in accordance with the law， so as to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the political and governance systems and mechanisms of the Hong Kong SAR．