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Commissioner’s Office of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in HKSAR and Liaison Office of Central People’s Government in HKSAR Co-organized Symposium of “Strengthening Confidence in True Democracy”
2021-12-09 22:51



On December 9, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR co-organized a symposium of “Strengthening Confidence in True Democracy”.

Commissioner Mr. Liu Guangyuan of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Director Mr. Chen Dong of the Liaison Office delivered keynote speeches at the symposium.

Panelists present at the symposium were professor Lawrence Lau, former president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and non-official member of the HKSAR Candidate Eligibility Review Committee; professor Lau Siu-kai,vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies; Mr Alan Hoo, Hong Kong member of the CPPCC National Committee; Madame Cheng Cheung Ling, chairperson of the Hong Kong CPPCC (Provincial) Members Association; Mr Lawrence Ma, member of the HKSAR Election Committee; Mr Adrian Lai, practising barrister; Mr Lawrence Ho, commentator of Phoenix TV; Mr Zhou Dewu, deputy editor of Ta Kung Pao; Dr Henry Ho, founder and chairman of the “One Country, Two Systems” Youth Forum; Dr Yan Xiaojun, Associate Professor in Politics and Public Administration at the University of Hong Kong, and Mr Clarence Ling, chairman of the Y.Elites Association.

About 50 representatives of Hong Kong’s major youth organizations and college students also attended the symposium and exchanged views with the speakers and panelists.



Commissioner Liu Guangyuan said that the United States intends to play up the so-called narrative of “democracy” against “authoritarianism” by putting together a so-called “Summit for Democracy”. This summit is nothing but a political farce that distorts democratic values and divides the world, and a global “pyramid scheme” that interferes in others’ internal affairs in the name of democracy. It’s deceiving, coercing and misleading in nature.

It is a standing joke for a “sick man of democracy” to hold a “Summit for Democracy”, and an irony for a troublemaker who caused unrest and conflicts to the world under the disguise of democracy to claim to solve global issues through a “Summit for Democracy”. The summit itself precisely exposes the motive of the United States to use democracy as a private tool to contain others.



Commissioner Liu pointed out that the Communist Party of China has united and led the Chinese people in developing a dynamic development path of democracy. China’s democracy is whole-process people’s democracy. It is a democracy that works and brings prosperity, stability, fairness and justice to the world. 

In the face of certain countries’ vilification of China’s social system, development model and “one country, two systems”, it is hoped that the participants will strengthen their confidence in democracy, advocate democracy with Chinese characteristics, break the discourse trap of “western democracy”, and contribute to new democratic practices in the HKSAR. 

Commissioner Liu warns that any act of external forces interfering in the Hong Kong Legco election, under whatever forms and covers, will be confronted with strong countermeasures of the Chinese government. Those who exploit the so-called “Summit for Democracy” to smear Hong Kong and slander China will only be remembered as ones who stand on the wrong side of history.



Deputy Director Chen Dong said that China is following a development path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. China’s democracy is whole-process people’s democracy, which integrates process-oriented democracy with results-oriented democracy, procedural democracy with substantive democracy, direct democracy with indirect democracy, and people’s democracy with the will of the state. It is where the strengths of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics lie and is the source of our confidence in the system.

The democratic values and concepts in China’s Constitution are applicable to Hong Kong. The principles of “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and “Hong Kong enjoying a high degree of autonomy” provide a strong foundation and broad space for the development of democracy in Hong Kong. Under British colonial rule, there was no democracy at all in Hong Kong. The Central Government firmly supports the democratic development of Hong Kong, and protects the extensive democratic rights of Hong Kong residents. Democracy has developed significantly in Hong Kong and relevant achievements are there for all to see.

The United States has long violated the basic norms governing international relations, interfered in Hong Kong's affairs and undermined Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, in an attempt to disrupt Hong Kong, defy “one country, two systems” and curb China’s development. With the support of external forces, anti-China elements in Hong Kong continued to damage Hong Kong’s democratic development, social stability and national security. At present, the anti-China, destabilizing forces in Hong Kong are trying to sabotage of the Legco election. Out of political motives, the United States invited the wanted fugitive Nathan Law as a guest of the “Summit for Democracy”, which is the greatest irony of American democracy. This kind of alienated and distorted democracy is good for nothing and will lead Hong Kong to an abyss.

The Central Government has righted the wrongs and brought the democratic development of Hong Kong back on the right track. The new electoral system implements the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong” and demonstrates broad representation, political inclusiveness, balanced participation and fair competition.

The Hong Kong 2021 Election Committee elections in September were widely-received by the society, and the upcoming Legco election has also taken a new look, which better reflects high-quality and substantive democracy, and will deliver greater benefits to Hong Kong people.

The participants had in-depth discussions on the contrast between China’s democracy and Western democracy and the new electoral system in Hong Kong. The following is part of the valuable insights.



The US democracy is dysfunctional democracy

The systemic flaws of the US democracy are self-evident. “One person, one vote” appears to be free and equal, but in fact, it is oligarchy, elite politics and money politics under the cover of democracy. It’s not just democracy, but dysfunctional one. In the face of a catastrophe like the Covid-19 pandemic, the deficiencies of American democracy have been more prominent.

The United States meddles in others’ internal affairs under the guise of democracy at its own will, but shuts its eyes to its own deficiencies in democracy.

It violently suppressed its mass movements at home, but cheered for violent crimes committed by elements who disrupted Hong Kong during the turbulence over the legislative amendment bills, displaying its hegemony and hypocrisy on democracy.



China’s democracy embraces a brighter future

China’s democracy is people-oriented, inclusive and effective. It conforms to China’s national conditions and has unique institutional advantages so that it can better reflect the will of the people, protect their rights and interests, stimulate their creativity, and ensure that the people are the masters of the country. 

China’s remarkable achievements in fighting the pandemic show the strong institutional advantages of the people’s democracy. China’s prosperity and development and the Chinese people’s great support to the Communist Party of China both attest to the strong vitality of China’s democracy. 

The white paper “China: Democracy That Works” and the report “The State of Democracy in the United States” of the Chinese government have sent a strong Chinese voice on the right to define democracy and demonstrated our confidence in China’s democracy. China’s effective democratic practices have provided Chinese wisdom and proposals for promoting world peace and development, and made strong contributions to advancing human progress.

Hong Kong’s new electoral system enjoys great strengths

Allowing two completely different social systems to co-exist within a sovereign country is itself a proof of inclusiveness of China’s democracy.

The electoral system reformed by the Central Government improve the quality of democracy in Hong Kong, free the HKSAR Government from the fetters of political division and help it to focus on the economy and people’s livelihood and better serve the Hong Kong people. 

This year’s Legco election is unprecedentedly competitive with the candidates from different camps and spectra representing the interests of the broadest groups. At the same time, it will be an orderly competition with candidates working together for a better future of Hong Kong.

It is believed that with the full implementation of the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”, Hong Kong will move forward in a steady and sound manner and usher in a new chapter of sound governance.


Participants agreed that the so-called “Summit for democracy” is simply another botched American trick to curb China’s development. Teaming up with some “friends” for such a summit cannot reverse the declining American democracy.  Democracy is not a prerogative of the United Sates, “American fast food” is not the only “menu” in the world, and American democracy is not the only standard answer for all others. 

True democracy should feature common prosperity, joint progress and all-win. What we should pursue is democracy that works, not one that only looks good. It is the Chinese people who have the right to judge China’s democracy. People should be confident about true democracy, oppose the American-style “democracy trap”, fight against the acts of the United States interfering in Hong Kong affairs in the name of democracy and freedom, and spare no effort to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.