HONG KONG’S amended electoral laws came into force yesterday, four days after the related bill was adopted by the local legislature.

The Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Ordinance 2021, which was overwhelmingly passed at the Legislative Council (LegCo) of China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) last Thursday, has been published in the Gazette, the HKSAR Government said yesterday in a statement.

The drafts of the related laws were first unveiled April 13 and brought to Hong Kong lawmakers April 14.

The ordinance serves to implement a decision adopted by the National People’s Congress (NPC) and Annex I and Annex II to the HKSAR Basic Law amended by the NPC Standing Committee, as well as a host of improvement measures for public elections, a government spokesman said.

Improving the electoral system can put in place institutional safeguards to ensure a full application of “patriots administering Hong Kong,” thereby getting Hong Kong back on the right track, ensuring the steadfast and successful implementation of “one country, two systems” as well as the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, he said.

The HKSAR Government will properly organize and conduct the upcoming Election Committee Subsector Elections, the Legislative Council General Election and the Chief Executive Election in accordance with the relevant amended electoral legislation, the spokesman said, vowing to ensure that elections are conducted in a fair, just and open manner.(Xinhua)