Photo taken on March 12, 2021 shows the exterior of the headquarters of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
BEIJING, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is all set to hold a milestone election on Sunday, which is expected to have a huge impact on the city's governance.
The election of the seventh Legislative Council (LegCo) will be the first such election after the electoral system of the HKSAR underwent improvements.
It will be a democratic election featuring Hong Kong characteristics with extensive participation and full competition. Most importantly, the election will see further implementation of the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong."
The full and faithful implementation of the principle is what this election will set for the future of Hong Kong.
The LegCo, as a critical component of the HKSAR governance structure, is tasked with important functions of pooling public opinion, exercising oversight over the government, formulating laws and improving public policies.
China's central government has always been a strong supporter of Hong Kong in its effort to develop a democratic system that suits Hong Kong's actual situation.
In early 2021, the central government took concrete measures to fix the loopholes in the HKSAR electoral system, through which anti-China destabilizing elements had been able to make their way into the power structure.
Thanks to the electoral reforms, their access has been effectively barred. Candidates, whether from the pro-establishment camp or not, can stand in polls and be elected as long as they are patriots.
Opinion polls show that over 72 percent of Hong Kong voters expressed confidence in electing patriotic legislators with both moral integrity and professional capability.
The upcoming LegCo election will have a direct bearing on three important optics of Hong Kong governance -- whether Hong Kong can see a more benign executive-legislative relationship, whether its deep-seated contradictions and problems can be solved, and whether good governance can be achieved.
Having witnessed riots and chaos ravaging the city, Hong Kong residents want to see no more social disorder, economic imbalances, or ineffective governance.
However, hostile forces in the United States and other Western countries have continued their meddling in Hong Kong affairs, as well as their wanton attacks and smears targeting the HKSAR electoral system. They have manipulated fugitive anti-China elements to incite people not to vote, and used fake polls to mislead voters, violating election regulations and laws of the HKSAR. What's more, they have impeded the sound and orderly development of democracy in Hong Kong and trampled on the democratic rights of Hong Kong people.
It is evident that despite being slandered by certain Western countries and politicians, the HKSAR's improved electoral system has aided in the restoration of law and order in Hong Kong and brought back peace and stability.
As the residents cast the ballot on Sunday, a brand-new chapter awaits to be unfolded in Hong Kong's history. Enditem
