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Hong Kong electoral changes
Hong KongPolitics

Beijing defends ‘democracy with Hong Kong characteristics’ model as white paper released a day after Legco election cites end goal of universal suffrage

  • Within hours of Legco election closing, central government publishes strategy on developing Hong Kong-style democracy
  • White paper is only the second covering Hong Kong political reforms to be released by Beijing in seven years

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The Hong Kong and national flags. Photo: Sun Yeung
Gary Cheung,Tony CheungandJun Mai

Beijing has renewed its pledge to pursue the ultimate goal of electing Hong Kong’s leader and legislature by universal suffrage, releasing a white paper on Monday to mount a robust defence of its strategy of developing democracy for the city “in line with its realities” and putting “patriots” in charge.

Issued on the day after the city’s first Legislative Council election under a revamped political system imposed by Beijing, the document, titled “Hong Kong Democratic Progress Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems”, is the second such white paper on Hong Kong affairs since 2014.

“The improved electoral system … ensures the sound long-term development of democracy in Hong Kong, and fosters favourable conditions necessary for the election by universal suffrage of the chief executive and the Legislative Council,” the paper stated.

Copies of the white paper titled “Hong Kong Democratic Progress Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems” issued by the State Council Information Office. Photo: Handout
Copies of the white paper titled “Hong Kong Democratic Progress Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems” issued by the State Council Information Office. Photo: Handout

“The central government will continue to develop and improve democracy in Hong Kong in line with its realities … It will work with all social groups, sectors and stakeholders towards the ultimate goal of election by universal suffrage of the chief executive and all members of the Legislative Council.”

The paper noted that while Hong Kong was a special administrative region directly under the central government, the city could “develop democracy with its own characteristics in light of its actual conditions”.

But Beijing also stated in unequivocal terms that the Chinese constitution and the Basic Law together created the constitutional foundation underpinning the special administrative region.

“They grant the central authorities overall jurisdiction over the region, detail the powers directly exercised by the central authorities, empower the HKSAR to exercise a high degree of autonomy, and confirm the central authorities’ right to supervise the exercise of this autonomy,” the document said.

Beijing has never before presented the two sets of legal principles tied in such a way in a white paper.

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