Introducing Democracy to Hong Kong and Macao

December, 20, 2021

The Silk Road Journal by Mahika Ming

Hong Kong (HK) and Macao were two regions located adjoining main land China ruled by Britain and Portugal respectively for nearly half a millennium (500 years). During the colonial occupation democracy wasn’t the system of governance practiced and they have been gradually experiencing the democratic system of governance as special administrative regions (SARs) after being handed over back to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) by the colonial masters in late 1990s (at the expiry of the 99 year lease agreements signed between Great China and British and Portuguese empires respectively. Although not a single democratic election was Held in HK during British occupation, it is encouraging to see the support Britain and other western powers provide to establish a democratic system of government in HK and Macao under PRC.

As part of the democratizing process the latest Legislative Council election (LegCo election) was held in HK during the weekend. This election is important as it’s the first to be held after electoral system was improved by the PRC. There are approx. 600 polling stations to receive the ballots from a population of more than four million people as per statistics. During the seventh term of HK LegCo the membership was expected to increase from 70 to 90 where the members were elected by the Election Committee constituency (40 seats), functional constituencies (30 seats), and geographical constituencies (20 seats). Public transport operators have provided free transport on polling day to the public to cast their vote as per sources. The LegCo is being elected for a period of four years as per constitution. HK during the past two decades has been listed by many international organizations as world’s best place to do business.

Macao will be celebrating the 22nd anniversary of becoming a special admin region in the PRC which was another notable example for one country two systems method of governance. Macao as per its latest five-year plan expect to position itself as a top ranking service provider hub and a world tourism center to facilitate business cooperation between the PRC and the Portuguese-speaking countries by 2025. The electoral system of Macao is also planned to be improved to include individuals who would unconditionally protect Macao as per sources. The PRC commenced exercise of sovereignty over Macao by establishing the Macao SAR as their second case study of "One Country, Two Systems". The socialist system which governs PRC is not practiced either in HK or Macao. It allowed the regions to retain its capitalist system and culture. These are good study materials for so called socialist political parties in other countries who have a long history of dragging countries backwards while displaying bright red socialist banners with no progressive thinking.

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