BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China's State Council on Sunday said Hong Kong has taken a fresh look with a new electoral system and is poised for a brighter future at a new starting point.
The office expressed the view in an article released after John Lee won the election of the six-term chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) with an overwhelming majority of votes. It extended congratulations to Lee on winning the election.
The chief executive election represented another successful practice of the HKSAR's new electoral system after the Election Committee elections last September and the election of the seventh-term Legislative Council last December, the office said.
It has been proved by solid facts that the new system is a good one that follows the "one country, two systems" principle and is suited to Hong Kong's realities, the office said.
Facts will also prove that the newly elected chief executive will certainly lead the new team of the HKSAR government and people from all sectors of society to stay united and strive for new prospects of good governance in Hong Kong at a new starting point, it added.
SUCCESSFUL ELECTION WITH NEW LOOK
The election is the first HKSAR chief executive election held after Hong Kong's transition from chaos to order. It is of great significance and far-reaching influence and has drawn wide attention.
The office hailed Sunday's election a complete success, saying it was achieved with the joint efforts of the HKSAR government and all sectors of society by conducting the election in strict accordance with the Basic Law of the HKSAR, relevant decisions of the National People's Congress and its standing committee, and relevant electoral laws of the HKSAR, and by overcoming the impact of COVID-19.
"The election process was orderly, fair, safe, clean and with numerous highlights," it said.
The election has focused on development and people's well-being and brought together strong positive energy, said the office, noting that the goals and tenets of vision put forward by Lee in his announcement of his candidacy have aroused strong response and broad resonance in Hong Kong.
Recognizing the extensive and in-depth public participation in the election, the office said it fully demonstrates democracy. Since Lee announced his candidacy, he has made intensive visits to people from all walks of life, conducted online exchanges of views, and visited communities to extensively collect public opinions and introduce his election vision and manifesto.
It can be said that the process for Lee to form and introduce his election manifesto was a process of democratic consultation in Hong Kong society.
The chief executive-elect has got wide support, the office said, noting that Lee was elected with 99.16 percent of the vote, which fully reflects the high recognition he gained in Hong Kong society.
It is widely believed that Lee, who was promoted from a front-line police officer to chief secretary for administration of the HKSAR government, has rich grassroots experience and strong enforcement ability. He has taken a firm stand and stood the test with courage and sense of responsibility in the process of stopping violence and chaos and implementing the law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR.
The general public in Hong Kong has full trust in and high expectations on Lee, believing that he can recruit talent to form a new administration team of the HKSAR government, achieve the goals with decisive administration, improve governance with an open mind, sincerely serve the public, and unite all sectors of society to write a new chapter.
Throughout the whole process of the chief executive election, there was no longer wanton confrontation or arbitrary attacks and smears.
The election is the true embodiment of the spirit of democracy, the office said. ■
