Beijing Is Guaranteeing 'political Safety' In HK: CE

Chief Executive Carrie Lam says she’s happy that Beijing is changing Hong Kong’s electoral system to make sure only "patriots" can rule the territory, and the move will bring "political safety".

Lam said in an interview with state broadcaster CCTV that the plan “completes the restoration of order” which started when Beijing introduced the national security law for Hong Kong last year.

“Aside from safety in society, Hong Kong also needs safety in politics,” she said.

“Refining the Hong Kong SAR’s electoral systems will guarantee political safety,” she added.

Lam also said Hong Kong must grasp the opportunities offered by the central government in its latest five-year development blueprint to establish itself as an international aviation hub, a technology and innovation hub, and a cultural exchange hub.

Meanwhile, Lam told English-language state media CGTN that she expects the electoral changes to be completed in 12 months so they can be adopted for the next chief executive election in March 2022.

“The chief executive has a term of five years. The current chief executive, that is myself, my term will end in June next year. So normally the election of a chief executive will need to take place in March. We are now in March so we have exactly 12 months,” she explained.

“With the current environment in Hong Kong, and the timing that we have just discussed, it’s very tight timing. It is almost impossible for this change to take place through that Hong Kong SAR [government] initiative process, let alone that it will succeed,” she said.

“It’s exactly like the national security law. We are obliged under Basic Law article 23 to enact local legislation to safeguard national security. We never managed to do that. So ultimately because of the very worrying situation, the central authorities have to come in, so this time it’s exactly the same.”

Lam added she will make sure that her team will put this at the top of the government’s agenda.

The National People’s Congress is holding its annual plenary session in Beijing, and is expected to endorse proposals to restructure the election committee currently tasked with selecting Hong Kong’s chief executive – also giving it the power to nominate and choose legislators.