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     The fourth session of the 13th National People’s Congress passed the Decision of the National People’s Congress on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region today (March 11), with a view to improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and implementing the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”.

     The Director of Immigration, Mr Au Ka-wang, upholds the Decision. The execution of the Decision of the National People’s Congress on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR, which has laid down the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”, will plug the loophole in the existing electoral system of the HKSAR and prevent persons with ulterior motives from advocating, through the deliberation platforms of the Legislative Council (LegCo) and District Councils, activities that oppose the Central Authorities and cause disturbance to the law and order of Hong Kong in an attempt to paralyse the LegCo of the HKSAR and obstruct the HKSAR Government in governing according to the law. The execution of the Decision will ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong.

     In order to safeguard national security and to ensure the long-term security of the HKSAR, the Immigration Department will, by strictly adhering to all applicable laws and current immigration policies, continue to safeguard Hong Kong, the country’s southern gateway, and work with other law enforcement agencies to combat activities that endanger national security. read more

     The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Hermes Tang, has given full support to the passage of the Decision on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) made by the National People’s Congress (NPC) at the fourth session of the 13th NPC today (March 11).

     Lawless acts of violence and vandalism spread widely following the eruption of opposition to proposed legislative amendments in 2019. Public order and safety were put at high risk and Hong Kong Customs faced unprecedented challenges in the interception of the illegal inflow of controlled and prohibited items such as arms and ammunition. Chaos was halted and order restored following the Central Authorities’ formulation and implementation of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (National Security Law) in a decisive manner last year. The National Security Law serves as a solid and powerful basis for the HKSAR Government’s law enforcement agencies to safeguard national security and the city’s prosperity and stability.

     Assuring the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong” and improving Hong Kong’s electoral system, the NPC’s Decision is crucial to the safeguarding of national sovereignty, security and development interests and Hong Kong’s long-term stability.

     It is no more than fair that Hong Kong should be administered by patriots. It is the crux of and a prerequisite for the successful implementation of “one country, two systems”. Hong Kong Customs will continue to uphold its commitment and stand united with other disciplinary forces to safeguard national security and the city’s prosperity and stability, offer full support to the HKSAR Government in its implementation of the NPC’s Decision, and ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of “one country, two systems”. read more

     The Decision of the National People’s Congress (NPC) on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was adopted at the fourth session of the 13th NPC today (March 11), implementing the “patriots administering Hong Kong” principle.

     The Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, welcomes and fully supports the NPC’s Decision. He will lead the disciplinary forces to fully co-operate and continue to fulfil resolutely the responsibility of safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and ensuring the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

     Mr Lee said that frequent chaotic scenes were witnessed in the Legislative Council (LegCo) for quite some time, including some LegCo members blatantly advocating “Hong Kong independence” during oath-taking. In particular since 2019 when violent riots emerged in society, some LegCo members impeded the operation of the LegCo on purpose and obstructed LegCo staff in their execution of duties; some supported violence, called rioters “brothers in arms”, colluded with foreign forces, begged foreign countries for sanctioning against Hong Kong and acted as foreign proxies; and some even associated with subversive forces with an intention of bringing “mutual destruction” to Hong Kong, and sabotaged the governance of the HKSAR Government, with a view to compelling the Central People’s Government and the HKSAR Government. These people wanted Hong Kong to jump off a cliff with them and pushed Hong Kong people into the abyss. Such attempts have severely undermined Hong Kong’s safety, order and stability, violating the Basic Law and the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (National Security Law) as well as relevant Hong Kong laws.
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     Upon the implementation of the National Security Law, chaos has stopped and order is restored in Hong Kong. However, there are still loopholes and deficiencies in our electoral system, posing threats to Hong Kong’s social stability and national security. The Decision is a forceful measure in handling and preventing such risks. “Patriots administering Hong Kong” will put an end to the absurd period that caused destruction in Hong Kong, and usher in a new era of development for the city, thereby enabling effective governance by the HKSAR Government, improvement to people’s livelihoods and development of the economy, and bringing back Hong Kong’s vibrancy.

     Mr Lee said, “I welcome and fully support the NPC’s Decision which implements the principle of ‘patriots administering Hong Kong’. The Decision helps improve our electoral system, plug its loopholes and rectify its deficiencies, thereby preventing security risks and ensuring the smooth and continuous implementation of ‘one country, two systems’, as well as Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity, order and stability.” read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The President of the Legislative Council (LegCo), Mr Andrew Leung, today (March 11) issued through the LegCo Secretariat the following statement in response to the passage of the Decision by the National People’s Congress (NPC) on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR):

     In response to the Decision adopted by NPC today on improving the electoral system of HKSAR, under which the Standing Committee of NPC (NPCSC) is entrusted to amend Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law, the President expresses respect and support. He hopes that after NPCSC has completed the relevant amendments, the executive authorities of HKSAR will expeditiously present the draft local legislation to LegCo for scrutiny, so that the relevant elections can be held in an orderly manner in the next 12 months.

     He also hopes that the Government could make efforts to explain the relevant bills clearly to LegCo Members and members of the public to ensure the smooth implementation of the new electoral system.

     The President stresses that the purpose of improving the electoral system is to ensure that Hong Kong is administered by patriots, and to prevent the occurrence of events which will endanger national security and sovereignty, and undermine the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. As Hong Kong is a pluralistic and inclusive city, it is only natural that there are diverse views in both the community and in the legislature. After the constitutional order has been rationalised, individuals and political parties of various political beliefs will be represented in the legislature, which will better reflect the overall interests of Hong Kong and perform its constitutional functions of monitoring the Government for the well-being of the people of Hong Kong. read more

     In the fourth quarter of 2020, 21.3% of Hong Kong’s total exports to the mainland of China (the Mainland) were for outward processing in the Mainland. On the other hand, 35.7% of Hong Kong’s imports from the Mainland were related to outward processing in the Mainland, according to statistics released today (March 11) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD). Over the same period, 62.8% of Hong Kong’s re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing in the Mainland.
 
     In the fourth quarter of 2019, the corresponding proportions were 23.7% for total exports to the Mainland, 38.8% for imports from the Mainland and 68.3% for re-exports of Mainland origin to other places.
 
     For 2020 as a whole, 21.6% of Hong Kong’s total exports to the Mainland were for outward processing in the Mainland. On the other hand, 34.9% of Hong Kong’s imports from the Mainland were related to outward processing in the Mainland. Over the same period, 62.8% of Hong Kong’s re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing in the Mainland.
 
     The corresponding proportions in 2019 were 25.3% for total exports to the Mainland, 38.6% for imports from the Mainland and 68.7% for re-exports of Mainland origin to other places.
 
     In value terms, $140.9 billion of Hong Kong’s total exports to the Mainland in the fourth quarter of 2020 were for outward processing in the Mainland, representing a decrease of 3.0% compared with the fourth quarter of 2019. On the other hand, the value of imports from the Mainland related to outward processing in the Mainland decreased by 3.6% compared with the fourth quarter of 2019 to $199.1 billion. Meanwhile, $211.0 billion of Hong Kong’s re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing in the Mainland, representing a decrease of 4.3% compared with the fourth quarter of 2019.
 
     For the whole year of 2020, $502.7 billion of Hong Kong’s total exports to the Mainland were for outward processing in the Mainland, representing a decrease of 10.1% compared with the whole year of 2019. On the other hand, the value of imports from the Mainland related to outward processing in the Mainland decreased by 15.7% compared with the whole year of 2019 to $668.8 billion. Meanwhile, $737.2 billion of Hong Kong’s re-exports of Mainland origin to other places were produced through outward processing in the Mainland, representing a decrease of 16.6% compared with the whole year of 2019.
 
     The statistics for the fourth quarter and whole year of 2020 are given in the attached tables.
 
     Information on trade involving outward processing in the Mainland is collected in a sample survey conducted by the C&SD. For the purpose of the survey, exports to the Mainland for outward processing refer to raw materials or semi-manufactures exported from or through Hong Kong to the Mainland for processing with a contractual arrangement for subsequent re-importation of the processed goods into Hong Kong.
 
     Imports from the Mainland related to outward processing refer to processed goods imported from the Mainland, of which all or part of the raw materials or semi-manufactures have been under contractual arrangement exported from or through Hong Kong to the Mainland for processing.
 
     Re-exports of Mainland origin to other places involving outward processing in the Mainland refer to processed goods re-exported through Hong Kong, of which all or part of the raw materials or semi-manufactures have been exported from or through Hong Kong to the Mainland for processing with a contractual arrangement for subsequent re-importation of the processed goods into Hong Kong.
 
     In interpreting the statistics, it should be noted that all imports and exports of goods (not including transhipments and goods-in-transit) are recorded as external trade, irrespective of whether the goods are associated with outward processing or not. Moreover, the value and proportion of imports from the Mainland and re-exports of Mainland origin to other places involving outward processing in the Mainland refer to those of the entire goods instead of just the value added contributed by outward processing in the Mainland.
 
     A sample of import/export declarations in respect of Hong Kong’s trade with the Mainland and Hong Kong’s re-exports originated in the Mainland to other places is selected for enumeration to obtain the required information from the establishments concerned. The findings of the survey facilitate a more informed analysis of the nature of Hong Kong’s trade with the Mainland. In this respect, the survey results are a useful supplement to the regular trade statistics.
 
     The above survey results will be included in the March 2021 issue of the “Hong Kong External Merchandise Trade”. The publication will be available in May 2021. Users can download this publication from the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp230.jsp?productCode=B1020005).
 
     Enquiries on the survey results may be directed to the Outward Processing and Shipping Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 2126 or email: ops@censtatd.gov.hk).
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