The central government’s top representative body in Hong Kong will convey to Beijing the “wide and strong” backing manifest in the almost 2.4 million signatures collected in a campaign in support of the special administrative region’s electoral reform.
Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, made the pledge on Wednesday when he received 2.38 million signatures from local political leaders and social workers who organized the campaign, online and offline, from March 11-21.
The overwhelming response represents people’s genuine support for the central authorities’ timely moves to curb the chaos in the SAR
Luo Huining director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
The campaign was launched by a cross-sector alliance on the day the National People’s Congress, the country’s top legislature, adopted a decision to improve the electoral system of the HKSAR and implement the principle of “patriots governing Hong Kong”.
The Standing Committee of the NPC is set to deliberate detailed changes to the methods for electing the chief executive and lawmakers of the SAR early next week.
At the ceremony, Luo said the overwhelming response represents people’s genuine support for the central authorities’ timely moves to curb the chaos in the SAR. The results also show the Hong Kong public’s sworn repugnance of protest violence and “mutual destruction” — an idea advocated by radical opposition members — as well as Hong Kong society’s firm opposition to external interference, Luo said.
Labor groups, young students and ethnic minorities were among those who joined the signature campaign. Hong Kong legislators, political and social organization leaders, and government officials, including Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, signed up at various street booths.
Luo said Hong Kong is assured of a bright future as long as people in the city safeguard the nation’s sovereignty, security and development interests, as well as the SAR’s overall, fundamental and long-term interests.
Speaking at the ceremony, lawmaker Starry Lee Wai-king and Stanley Ng Chau-pei, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, said they both felt staunch public support for the electoral reform through their interactions with residents during the campaign.
Residents hope that Hong Kong will now be free of disputes and enjoy stability and prosperity after the reform, they said.
gangwen@chinadaily.com.cn