HK security chief: Improved electoral system to safeguard national security

The legislative proposal for Hong Kong to improve its electoral deficiencies will help the city remove national security hazards and ensure steady development, Hong Kong's security chief John Lee Ka-chiu said on Saturday on his blog.

Lee added that the Security Bureau will fully cooperate with the central authorities in implementing the improvements, while continuing to fulfill its mission of safeguarding the country's fundamental interests, and Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.

Earlier, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress — China's top legislature — submitted a draft decision to the congress for deliberation during this year's national session. The decision proposes to improve the mechanism of electing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's chief executive and lawmakers.

In the online article, Lee, the SAR's secretary for security, said that the recent chaotic scenes in the city's legislature clearly demonstrate the serious loopholes and flaws of its electoral system, which has even allowed traitors into the city's governance team.

Besides the damage to Hong Kong's social stability, the institutional deficiencies also seriously undermine the SAR's constitutional order and jeopardize the nation's sovereignty, security and development interests, Lee said.

In the past few years, especially after the social unrest of 2019, Hong Kong's Legislative Council degenerated into mayhem, which saw irresponsible lawmakers continuously obstruct the body's operation, brazenly advocate violence and seek foreign sanctions with the aim to pressure the local and central government.

Although Hong Kong has gradually returned to stability after the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong, Lee added that the electoral flaws still exist, and remain a menace to national security and the SAR's stability.

Lee said this issue must be resolved and strong measures must be taken, and said that he and his bureau fully back the draft decision proposed by the NPCSC, made in accordance with legal provisions and taking the HKSAR's practical needs into account.

Lee said he believes the improved electoral system is conducive for ensuring the leading position of patriots in its administration, which he hails as an internationally recognized principle to rule out disruptors and protect political stability.

Lee said only by strictly adhering to the principle, can Hong Kong ensure law-based and effective governance and the correct implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle.