HK elections will improve with reforms

Top officials in region urge Western governments to stop belittling system

Top Hong Kong officials urged Western countries to stop belittling recent improvements in the city's legal and electoral systems, stressing that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy and solid judicial independence.

Their comments came as the United States announced the stepping up of sanctions against central government and Hong Kong officials, while British lawmakers pressed Western judges to resign from Hong Kong courts. Both are aimed at opposing Hong Kong's actions on national security and local elections.

On Monday and Tuesday, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress will deliberate on bills changing the formation and selection process of Hong Kong's legislature and the committee that elects the city's chief executive. This is to implement an NPC decision on March 11 to improve the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

At a news briefing on Tuesday ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor dismissed suggestions that the move would damage Hong Kong's rule of law amid speculation that the 14 overseas nonpermanent judges who serve on the Court of Final Appeal would be concerned over planned improvements to the city's electoral system and the enactment of the National Security Law for Hong Kong in June last year.

Lam cited an article written by Jonathan Sumption, who sits on the court as one of the 14 jurists. In a letter to The Times published on Thursday, Sumption said he would continue serving and urged the United Kingdom to "avoid undermining the independence of the judiciary in Hong Kong".

Lam reiterated that Hong Kong courts exercise judicial power independently, without any interference from either the central government or the local administration.

On Friday, Hong Kong Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah urged everyone in Hong Kong to call for a halt to the groundless defamation of its rule of law reputation.

Some opposition groups and figures in Hong Kong, including several former lawmakers, have been lobbying certain Western countries to sanction Hong Kong and even China, claiming that the rule of law and the "one country, two systems" principle have been undermined.

"That's not something that is a reflection of the patriotism of being a Legislative Council member," Cheng said. This is why "there is really a need for improvements to be made to the electoral system", to ensure those in power are really patriotic, she added.

Time has proved that the security law has restored stability and order to the city, and it will eventually be proved that the improved electoral system will bring rationality and good governance back to the city's legislature as lawmakers discuss livelihood-related issues, she said.

In her view, with the system improved, people with quality and with different views will be elected to serve in the Legislative Council, leading to rational debates in the legislature, which saw frequent rowdy behavior and filibusters over the past few years.

Once rationality returns to the legislature and effective governance is ensured, it would in return boost the confidence of many to join the administration structure to use their expertise and knowledge to help build a better city, she said.