China’s military ‘resolutely supports’ reform of Hong Kong electoral system

‘This is an important agenda of the Communist Party, the nation and Hong Kong,’ Central Military Commission vice-chairman Xu Qiliang says

‘It must be done at all costs and it carries great significance,’ he tells NPC deputies from PLA and People’s Armed Police

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The PLA says it backs Beijing’s plans for Hong Kong. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 2:45pm, 7 Mar 2021Updated: 6:26pm, 9 Mar 2021

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has given its backing to Beijing’s plan to overhaul Hong Kong’s electoral system to ensure “patriots” govern the city.

Xu Qiliang, a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, said at a meeting on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress (NPC) on Friday that China’s military would resolutely support the decision “to amend and refine the electoral system” in accordance with China’s constitution and the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.

“This is an important agenda of the Communist Party, the nation and Hong Kong,” Xu was quoted by PLA Daily as saying at a meeting of NPC deputies representing the PLA and the People’s Armed Police, the country’s internal security force.

“It must be done at all costs and it carries great significance,” he said. “The army resolutely supports this important decision about safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty, security and development interests.”

The NPC – China’s rubber-stamp parliament – is expected to pass a resolution that would lead to changes to the annexes of the Basic Law and severely limit the representation of dissenting voices in Hong Kong’s legislature.