CHINA-NPC: DRAFT BILL ON HONGKONG SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL BY NPC ON MARCH 5
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A draft Bill for improving Hong Kong’s electoral system was submitted to the National People’s Congress (NPC) for review on March 5. Xinhua quoted NPC Standing Committee Vice Chairman Wang Chen explaining the rationale for the new rules as saying that: “The electoral system of Hong Kong, including the method for selecting…the Legislative Council…should be in line with the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ and the actual situation of the region” and “It should ensure that ‘patriots govern Hong Kong.’” To make sure that happens, Wang Chen said “The overall design of the system will be centered around the reformation and greater empowerment of the Election Committee of the HKSAR.” A 1200-member Election Committee, whose members are mostly Beijing loyalists, will choose the Chief Executive and “The Election Committee will be entrusted with the new function of electing a relatively large share of LegCo members and directly participating in the nomination of all candidates for the LegCo.”
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