Overview: "Patriots Governing Hong Kong" Implemented in Practice Hong Kong Showcases New Governance | Government | Governance | Implemented in Practice Hong Kong
From June 25th to July 1st this year, the sixth government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has celebrated its full anniversary. Over the past year, with the strong support of the central government, the new Special Administrative Region Government has put "patriots governing Hong Kong" into practice, demonstrating a new atmosphere of governance with courage, pragmatism, and progress.
Looking back at the beginning of the current SAR government's inauguration, the central government proposed the "Four Musts" to the SAR government, among which it was explicitly stated that "it is necessary to implement the principle of 'patriots governing Hong Kong'.". The implementation of "patriots governing Hong Kong" is a fundamental principle that concerns national sovereignty, security, development interests, and the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. Only in this way can national security be guaranteed, and Hong Kong can truly restart and move towards long-term stability.
Without security and stability, nothing can be discussed. In mid May, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Li Jiachao, attended the first "Chief Executive Interactive Exchange and Q&A Meeting" in the Legislative Council and said, "The most basic standard of 'patriots governing Hong Kong' is not to allow traitors or foreign agents who betray the interests of the country and Hong Kong to enter the Legislative Council, which endangers national security and undermines the successful practice of 'One Country, Two Systems'."
Undoubtedly, after the implementation of the National Security Law and the improvement of the electoral system, the political situation in Hong Kong has greatly improved, but the potential challenges to national security still exist. In the view of Fang Zhou, the Research Director of the Hong Kong "One Country, Two Systems" Research Center, in the face of internal and external challenges, the SAR government has shown firm determination in responding to major issues after taking office:
In the face of illegal acts committed by individuals who violate Hong Kong's National Security Law and endanger national security, the SAR government has prosecuted them in accordance with Hong Kong's National Security Law and relevant laws, using legal means to maintain national security; The SAR government has taken decisive and timely measures to block loopholes in books and songs that promote the idea of "Hong Kong independence" or so-called "self-determination"; The SAR government has done more to promote patriotic education and promote people's return.
"With the efforts of the SAR government, the social atmosphere in Hong Kong has significantly improved, and Hong Kong citizens have gained a deeper understanding of the country's development and a growing sense of identity with the country," said Fang Zhou.
Along with the "Four Musts", there are also the "Four Hopes" of the central government for the new SAR government and Hong Kong society to seize opportunities and start a new chapter. Among them, the first and foremost is to "focus on improving the level of governance", improve the governance system, enhance governance capabilities, and enhance governance efficiency.
The District Council is one of the important links in the governance system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and serves as a communication bridge between the government and citizens. However, during the "amendment controversy", under the control of anti China and anti Hong Kong forces, the district council, which originally focused on people's well-being, became a tool for political struggle.
In order to rectify the chaos, the SAR government proposed a plan to improve regional governance in early May and carried out a series of reforms on systems such as district councils. This move has received strong support from Hong Kong society. The "Hong Kong Alliance for Supporting and Improving Regional Governance" has collected over 1.61 million signatures of support proposals within 24 days, which is enough to prove the earnest expectations of all sectors of society. On May 31st, the 2023 District Council Bill was delivered to the Legislative Council for the first and second readings.
Ark believes that the series of measures taken by the SAR government have improved the regional governance structure, filled the gaps in grassroots governance, and implemented "patriots governing Hong Kong" as the "last mile" of the SAR governance structure.
The coming years are a crucial period for Hong Kong to open up new horizons and achieve new leaps. With the premise of maintaining national security and improving grassroots governance, the SAR government can focus its energy on developing the economy and improving people's livelihoods, resolving deep-seated social conflicts, and enhancing the well-being of Hong Kong citizens. I believe that with a good start to the first year, the current SAR government will be able to unite all sectors of Hong Kong and accelerate progress with hope.
