Infographic: the central government is committed to developing democracy in Hong Kong

By Wang Ruoxin

China's State Council Information Office on Dec. 20, 2021 issued a white paper titled "Hong Kong: Democratic Progress Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems."

As the document said, the central government has taken three significant steps to advance the system of democracy in Hong Kong pursuant to procedures.

Since Hong Kong’s reintegration into China’s national governance system, the central government has remained committed to the policy of One Country, Two Systems and to the Basic Law of the HKSAR, fully supporting the orderly development of democracy in Hong Kong in accordance with the law.

In accordance with the original Annex I and Annex II of the Basic Law, the Second-term Chief Executive of the HKSAR was elected in 2002, and the first, second and third Legislative Councils of the HKSAR were formed in 1998, 2000 and 2004. With these elections, the relevant provisions of the Basic Law for the period prior to 2007 were fully implemented, representing gradual progress in advancing democracy.

Here are the highlights of this white paper’s third section “The Central Government Is Committed to Developing Democracy in Hong Kong”: