A right view on Hong Kong’s Election Committee elections

First polls under HK's improved electoral system

BEIJING – The 2021 Election Committee's subsector ordinary elections in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the first polls after improvements to Hong Kong's electoral system earlier this year, were held on Sunday.

The elections mark a vital step in implementing "patriots administering Hong Kong," a widely accepted principle in the city. With Hong Kong's improved electoral system as an institutional guarantee for this principle, people who are patriotic and care about Hong Kong will be able to participate in the elections for the overall interests of society.

READ MORE: CE: High turnout reflects strong support for improved system

By law, about 5,000 registered voters of the contested subsectors can cast their ballots on Sunday. The polls started at 9 am and ended at 6 pm local time.

With the new electoral system, Hong Kong's democracy would push forward step by step according to the actual situation. The city will enjoy continued prosperity and stability. The implementation of "one country, two systems" would also achieve enduring success

The structural optimization of the Election Committee, which has expanded to 1,500 members from 1,200, leads to more balanced participation of people from all walks of life and is conducive to fair political participation in Hong Kong.

This institutional arrangement prevents anti-China, destabilizing elements from entering the administration structure of the HKSAR. It elects staunch patriots with high administrative capabilities and recreates a new pattern of sound administration and quality democracy. There will be no more chaos in the city.

Out of the 1,500 seats, 325 people were determined to be validly registered as ex-officio members, 156 persons were validly nominated to be members of the Election Committee, and 603 candidates will be uncontested, while 412 candidates will contest for 364 seats Sunday.

The actual number of members of the Election Committee will be fewer than 1,500 due to the LegCo election yet to be held and the overlapping status of some ex-officio members.

Some subsectors have individual voters. Other subsectors will be elected by corporate voters.

During the elections, voters and staff members followed epidemic prevention requirements and the voting was carried out in an orderly manner.

ALSO READ: CE: High turnout reflects strong support for improved system

The elections will lay a sound foundation for the upcoming elections for the Legislative Council (LegCo) and the Chief Executive of the HKSAR.

With the new electoral system, Hong Kong's democracy would push forward step by step according to the actual situation. The city will enjoy continued prosperity and stability. The implementation of "one country, two systems" would also achieve enduring success.

Taking a right and objective view on Hong Kong's Election Committee elections is significant in understanding the electoral system of Hong Kong.