The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government resolutely supports and backs the passing today of a legal proposal at the National People’s Congress (NPC) on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong SAR.
An electoral system is a crucial component of a political system. From a constitutional perspective, to improve the electoral systems of the SARs is a duty of the country’s authorities in exercising their overall jurisdiction over the SARs.
As the country's highest organ of state power, the NPC has made the decision to improve the electoral system of Hong Kong, in line with Hong Kong’s practical needs. Such effort is a paramount step in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests, while adhering to, and enhancing, the fundamental principle of “One country, two systems”, and ensuring the steady progress of its implementation.
The step taken by the NPC carries great significance, and will be of profound influence in ensuring the long-term stability and prosperity of Hong Kong, and the fundamental welfare of Hong Kong citizens.
Since its return to the motherland, the Macao SAR has implemented comprehensively and accurately the principle of “One country, two systems”, “Macao people governing Macao”, and the enjoyment of a high degree of autonomy. The Macao SAR Government has closely adhered to the fundamental principle of “patriots governing Macao”.
The Macao SAR Government dedicates utmost effort to consolidating the principle of firmly upholding the “one country” framework, while respecting the distinctions defined through the “two systems”; the principle of safeguarding the Central Government’s comprehensive jurisdiction, while protecting the high degree of autonomy enjoyed by the Macao SAR; and the acknowledgment of the motherland will always be supporting Macao, even while the city striving in its own efforts to elevate its overall competitiveness.
The Macao SAR Government resolutely safeguards the constitutional order outlined in the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of Macao, paving a path for the successful implementation of the “One country, two systems” principle with Macao characteristics.
The Macao SAR Government will continue to unite all sectors in society in the maintenance of, respectively: Macao’s long-standing patriotic tradition; the safeguarding of national sovereignty; the promotion of national security and national development interests; the city’s long-term stability and prosperity; and adherence to, and optimisation of, the “One country, two systems” principle. That is in order to ensure the steady progress of the “One country, two systems” principle with Macao characteristics.