Advertisement
Letters | Hong Kong needs electoral reform to safeguard national security
- While the city has always welcomed diverse views, public officers should not take active steps to jeopardise Chinese sovereignty over Hong Kong
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
1
Hong Kong is part of China, we have an obligation to safeguard national security. Early last week, the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Mr Xia Baolong, elaborated on the need to completely implement the principle (“Top Beijing official overseeing Hong Kong declares ‘patriots’ must hold key roles in city’s executive, judiciary, legislature and statutory bodies”, February 22).
The social unrest in 2019 exposed the dire consequences facing the city when local politicians could exploit the loopholes supporting chaos, whether on the street or in the legislative body. We recall that, during those darkest days for the city, protesters openly advocated Hong Kong independence, waved the US flag, burnt our Chinese national flag, and even beat up mainland Chinese just for speaking Mandarin.
Step by step, one would see how hatred was incited against the central government, against mainland Chinese, and there were even calls for Hong Kong’s secession from China.
Advertisement
Moreover, foreign politicians have always been able to exploit loopholes in our political system, with the help of local activists, to carry on with their unscrupulous acts against Chinese sovereignty. We recall how some opposition lawmakers reached out to foreign governments and urged them to impose sanctions on Hong Kong.
All this is why we need to have certain electoral reforms to plug the existing loopholes.
01:31
Xi says he is ‘worried’ about Hong Kong Covid-19 cases during virtual meeting with Carrie Lam
Xi says he is ‘worried’ about Hong Kong Covid-19 cases during virtual meeting with Carrie Lam
Hong Kong is a city with a diversity of views; views opposing government policies are always welcomed, but public officers should not cross the line, namely taking active steps to jeopardise Chinese sovereignty over Hong Kong.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x