Beijing has renewed its pledge to pursue the ultimate goal of electing Hong Kong’s leader and legislature by universal suffrage, releasing a white paper on Monday to mount a robust defence of its strategy of developing democracy for the city “in line with its realities” and putting “patriots” in charge. Issued on the day after the city’s first Legislative Council election under a revamped political system imposed by Beijing, the document, titled “Hong Kong Democratic Progress Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems”, is the second such white paper on Hong Kong affairs since 2014 . “The improved electoral system … ensures the sound long-term development of democracy in Hong Kong, and fosters favourable conditions necessary for the election by universal suffrage of the chief executive and the Legislative Council,” the paper stated. “The central government will continue to develop and improve democracy in Hong Kong in line with its realities … It will work with all social groups, sectors and stakeholders towards the ultimate goal of election by universal suffrage of the chief executive and all members of the Legislative Council.” The paper noted that while Hong Kong was a special administrative region directly under the central government, the city could “develop democracy with its own characteristics in light of its actual conditions”. But Beijing also stated in unequivocal terms that the Chinese constitution and the Basic Law together created the constitutional foundation underpinning the special administrative region. “They grant the central authorities overall jurisdiction over the region, detail the powers directly exercised by the central authorities, empower the HKSAR to exercise a high degree of autonomy, and confirm the central authorities’ right to supervise the exercise of this autonomy,” the document said. Beijing has never before presented the two sets of legal principles tied in such a way in a white paper. The document was issued by the State Council Information Office, which published a white paper called “China: Democracy that Works” about two weeks ago as part of a broader effort to promote the country’s system of governance as more representative and effective than the model of the United States. ‘Patriots’ vow to turn screw on Hong Kong government for any policy failures The latest report, published as final results of the Legco election were being announced in Hong Kong, noted that the city was now entering a new stage of “restored order” after the imposition of the national security law in 2020 and an overhaul of the entire electoral system earlier this year. A source familiar with the drafting stage said the document was completed “some time” before Sunday’s election, the first citywide poll held under the revamped system that only allows pre-vetted “patriots” to run. All but one moderate candidate lost, giving the pro-Beijing camp a near-clean sweep. According to Articles 45 and 68 of the Basic Law , Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, the method for selecting the chief executive and lawmakers shall be specified “in light of the actual situation” in Hong Kong, and “in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress”. The two articles also stipulate the election process of all members of Legco and the chief executive as “the ultimate aim”, although critics have questioned Beijing’s commitment to such a goal after the 2019 anti-government protests and the ensuing political shake-up. In an interview with state media after the overhaul of Hong Kong’s electoral system in March, Zhang Yong, vice-chairman of the Basic Law Committee which advises Beijing on Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, said it would be easier for the city to implement universal suffrage following the overhaul. Zhang noted the goal of electing the chief executive and legislators by “one man, one vote” remained in the Basic Law and had not changed. At around the same time, Deng Zhonghua, deputy director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), said Beijing had not amended the Basic Law articles on universal suffrage and would work with various sectors to foster a popular ballot for the two elections. Still, Monday’s white paper marks the first time since 2019 that an official policy document issued by Beijing has made clear universal suffrage remains an important target for Hong Kong’s political development. HKMAO director Xia Baolong told a forum in Beijing in July that under the protection of the national security law, Hong Kong’s democratic system would make “bigger progress” by the 2049 centenary of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. An HKMAO spokesman called the release of the white paper “timely and significant”. “It would help people comment on the Legco election in a more comprehensive and accurate manner, understand the advantages of Hong Kong’s new electoral system, as well as the importance and necessity of establishing a democratic system that fits its situations,” he said. ‘No one size fits all’ democratic model: Lam defends Legco poll In a separate statement, Hong Kong’s leader said a “correct understanding” of the city’s political development would help it become more democratic. “We are delighted that the central government said it would … make efforts towards the goal of universal suffrage. I encourage residents, especially young students, to read this paper carefully, and strengthen their correct understanding,” Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said. The white paper, which is divided into six sections, has a total of 17,000 and 26,000 words in its English and Chinese versions, respectively. The first two sections laid out a detailed argument that there was no democracy in Hong Kong under British colonial rule, and that it was only the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 that “ushered in a new era for democracy”. “Britain exercised a typical colonial rule over Hong Kong … but [it] rushed through electoral reform in Hong Kong in the very short remaining period of the colonial rule,” it said. “This was part of a British attempt to portray their withdrawal as somehow ‘honourable’ under a veneer of ‘British-style representative democracy’.” 5 takeaways from the Hong Kong Legislative Council election 2021 The third and fourth chapters stated how the central government was committed to developing democracy in Hong Kong, but “anti-China agitators” undermined and disrupted such plans in the city. The white paper recalled how Beijing was supportive as political reform exercises were launched in 2004, 2007 and 2014 for Hong Kong to move towards universal suffrage. But the first and third bids ended in failure, it said. In a reference to the government’s reform package being voted down in Legco in 2015, the report lamented that “democracy in Hong Kong was held back by those seeking to overturn the constitutional order and destabilise Hong Kong”. The last two chapters detailed how the security legislation of 2020 and the electoral overhaul in March helped put the development of democracy in Hong Kong “back on track” and ensured “bright prospects” for democracy in the city. “Governance by patriots will be further strengthened, the rule of law and the business environment will continue to improve, and Hong Kong will become a more harmonious society,” the paper said, adding the conditions would then exist to “effectively resolve long-standing and deep-seated problems” plaguing the city. “There is no single set of criteria for democracy and no single model of democracy that is universally acceptable. Democracy works only when it suits actual conditions and solves actual problems,” the paper said. “The central authorities have the final say in determining the system of democracy in [Hong Kong], which is a matter of national sovereignty and security … Only under central guidance can Hong Kong expect its democracy to make healthy progress.” In the previous white paper issued in June 2014, the State Council underscored the implementation of the “one country, two systems” governing formula for Hong Kong, stating that the central government enjoyed “comprehensive jurisdiction” over the city. The document was released three months ahead of the Occupy protests which paralysed main roads in the heart of Hong Kong. Tian Feilong, a law professor at Beihang University in Beijing, said Monday’s white paper was aimed at taking over the “power of narrative” on democracy under one country, two systems. “The paper tried to incorporate the debate on Hong Kong’s democracy into the broader debate between the US and China over democracy. I see it as an appendix of the white paper on China’s democracy on December 4, which did not touch on democracy in Hong Kong,” he said. “The commitment to universal suffrage is also important. After the new electoral reform some might think universal suffrage is unreachable but the paper is making the point that it’s still effective.” Ray Yep Kin-man, a political scientist at City University, said the paper was released after the electoral overhaul as a message to the international community that Beijing was committed to promoting democracy in Hong Kong. “Beijing paints itself as a victim who was forced to take action after anti-China forces colluded with external forces,” he said. “All governments need their own narratives on key issues. The document was also released to win the support of mainlanders.”