LegCo Photo:VCG

The Legislative Council (LegCo) on Thursday afternoon passed the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021 in the third reading. This marks the completion of the legislative work from the central government to local authorities in improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region (SAR). Hong Kong has turned a new political page.

There has been a fierce struggle in Hong Kong over the past two years. During the peak of the unrest sparked by the now-withdrawn extradition bill, many people probably would have not expected Hong Kong to make this achievement within a short time. The result of the struggle has verified the strength of the country as well as the authority and capability of the central government. 

Hong Kong's transition from chaos to governance has not resorted to a revolutionary overthrow, but strictly implemented legislative amendments and institutional reforms under the original legal framework. It shapes new political rules and new expectations at the social level. The reform can be classified as a success simply by evaluating the steadfast process in improving the electoral system.

We believe it will take some time for Hong Kong society to fully accept the reform. Radical opposition will certainly take some measures to boycott. Due to the duel effects of new electoral methods and the National Security Law for Hong Kong, their resistance cannot be transferred into votes, nor destructive mass street demonstrations. The gradual waning of their mobilization has been doomed.

Countries like the US and Britain will continue to attack China over the issue, but the majority of their means in piling pressure have been exploited. Their efforts are merely a spent bullet. It is very difficult for them to create a fresh wave of sanctions against Hong Kong.

When Hong Kong fell into a long period of unrest, the central government acted in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law and has received evident effect. It has changed expectations both internally and externally toward the SAR's political future. It has also reshaped people's perception toward the situation of Hong Kong, China-US and China-West wrestling. 

Some people worry that the US and its allies will remove Hong Kong from its origin position in the link of interests with the West and Hong Kong would not guarantee its hub status in terms of finance, trade and shipping. But Hong Kong has always been and will continue to be the crossroads between China and the West. The prosperity of Hong Kong's future will depend more on how strong and prosperous China will become and how much support it will give to Hong Kong, instead of the stance of the US and the West.

As long as China continues to robustly grow and put some of its resources into Hong Kong, no force will be capable of marginalizing Hong Kong. Any attempt to achieve it will come at a high price in return. Hong Kong is bound to share the same fate with the mainland. When the whole country prospers, Hong Kong will boom as well.

Hong Kong needs to contribute to China's rise, rather than hinders national rejuvenation. The improvement in the electoral system will fundamentally reduce the room for political turmoil in Hong Kong. The society will be able to refocus its attention to achieve development and prosperity. We expect Hong Kong to shine again as the jewel of China's opening to the world. The time when urban life was highly politicized and turbulent has gone.

Time will prove that Hong Kong is China's pride. From the perspective of the world, Hong Kong will become a model to navigate through the marsh of complex politics into future.