Sing Tao Daily:

The NPC deliberated and adopted the decision on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR, giving more power to the HKSAR's Election Committee, including electing the chief executive designate and a relatively large proportion of LegCo members. Some people have considered this to be a "leap backwards for democracy." Is this inconsistent with "the principle of gradual and orderly progress" as stipulated in the Basic Law? Thank you.

Deng Zhonghua:

Thank you for your question. The Election Committee set out in the NPC's decision is a new institutional framework. As Mr. Zhang Xiaoming and Mr. Zhang Yong introduced just now, it will be responsible for nominating candidates for the chief executive and electing the chief executive designate, and electing a relatively large proportion of LegCo members, as well as nominating candidates for all LegCo members. That is the fundamental system of the Election Committee. Our two major considerations are as follows:

First, the Election Committee shall be composed of representatives from different sectors and strata of Hong Kong society, and is broadly representative. Electing part of the members of the LegCo and nominating candidates for LegCo members through such an Election Committee helps go beyond the interests of one certain sector, region or group, and makes up for the underrepresentation of functional and geographical constituencies under the current system. This way, LegCo can better represent the overall interests of Hong Kong society.

Second, the Election Committee shall be responsible for electing the chief executive designate and part of the LegCo members. This way, the chief executive and LegCo will share certain common voters, which will facilitate communication between them, and help consolidate the executive-led system stipulated in the Basic Law. In fact, the practice of the Election Committee electing some members of LegCo existed in the past. The HKSAR people are quite familiar with it. It cannot be said that restoring conventional practice is a "leap backwards," or that it is not "gradual and orderly progress" of the HKSAR's democratic system. "Gradual and orderly progress" does not mean a higher amount of direct elections in every single election. The method and system are good so long as they move toward expanded democracy in general, and better safeguarding the overall and fundamental interests of the HKSAR society as well as the democratic rights and fundamental wellbeing of the HKSAR residents. Thank you.