Patriotism and Basic Law ‘non-negotiable’ for chief executive election in 2017
Both principles vital to chief executive election, top Beijing official tells Shenzhen meeting; while those who seek independence have 'no future'
Failure to comply with the Basic Law and the principle of patriots governing Hong Kong would amount to turning the city into an independent political entity, a top mainland official told lawmakers yesterday.
The warning was issued by Li Fei, chairman of the Basic Law Committee, at a seminar on reform in Shenzhen, which pan-democrats say failed to narrow their divide with Beijing.
[The committee] cannot stop members of any [camp] running
"Since the handover, there has always been a group of people who do not approve of the central government's right to govern Hong Kong … They attempt to maintain the colonial-style rule, which is a real threat to national security," Li said.
He noted that pan-democrats in the seminar had urged Beijing not to be too worried about the impact of reform on national security. "We therefore emphasise that the person who governs Hong Kong must be a patriot."
During the seminar, Li said those who tried to make Hong Kong independent "cannot at all have a political future", "and the best way out for them is to change their political stance".
He criticised people for trying to deviate from the Basic Law and for "relying on foreign influences" in promoting reform.
