Former Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-­hwa (left) and local businessman Victor Fung Kwok-king discuss the city’s electoral reform and the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" at a seminar organized by local think tank Our Hong Kong Foundation on Friday. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Former Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-­hwa said on Friday that the special administrative region’s problematic electoral system doesn’t need merely minor changes — it needs an overhaul. 

In the system of patriotic governance, politicians must win over voters with tangible results, rather than “political shows” of defiance, former HK leader Tung Chee­-hwa said

Tung, the first chief executive of the SAR and currently a vice-­chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee, voiced support for the National People’s Congress’  Thursday decision on improving Hong Kong’s electoral system to ensure the city is governed by patriots. 

Tung called the move a decisive step to ensure the system is conducive to safeguarding the “one country, two systems” principle, while leading Hong Kong out of political chaos and getting the SAR back on track.

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Tung made the remarks at a seminar held in the city by local think tank Our Hong Kong Foundation. 

In the system of patriotic governance, politicians must win over voters with tangible results, rather than “political shows” of defiance, Tung said.  Such radical acts, spawned by the current electoral setup, have cost Hong Kong opportunities to mobilize resources and develop talent.

At the seminar, Barrister Jat Sew­tong proposed setting  the standard for what constitutes a “patriot” through legal provisions. 

For example, a candidate should be disqualified from running for office when there is credible and substantial evidence that the candidate’s deeds are detrimental to the overall interests of Hong Kong, he said. 

Victor Fung Kwok-­king, a local businessman in the logistics and retailing sectors, said governance by patriots  will ensure stability and security, which is a prerequisite for Hong Kong to enhance its competitiveness in the new era of globalization.

With a favorable political environment, Hong Kong can smoothly integrate itself into the country’s development and participate in the “dual circulation” economic strategy  —  guidance for China to strengthen both domestic demand and foreign trade — during the 14th Five­Year Plan (2021­25) period.

Local businesses would benefit from closer links with the mainland, and export­-oriented manufacturers can recover by tapping the mainland market, said Fung, who is a former chairman of the Hong  Kong  Trade Development Council.

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Tam Yiu­chung, a member of the Standing Committee of the NPC, also attended the seminar to sound out public opinion, as national legislators started working on amendments to Annex I and Annex II of the Basic Law following the NPC decision.

Hong Kong business leaders, including Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group, also expressed support for the reform at the seminar.