The deputies will carry out their duty on behalf of more than six million Hong Kong people.

The election is the second held after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, with Hong Kong being treated as an independent electoral district. It was held in an open, fair and just manner and was a significant event in terms of implementing the principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy.

The event is also important for the political life of Hong Kong. The democratic electoral procedure was first voted for by a wide representation of the Hong Kong community, and the deputies were then elected. Such deputies are expected to participate in managing state affairs -- something Hong Kong was unable to do before its return to the motherland on July 1, 1997.

Before its return, the Hong Kong deputies had been elected by the electoral conference of Guangdong Province as part of the Guangdong provincial deputies.

It was only after its return that Hong Kong has attained an independent status in electing its own deputies.

Compared with the election of the deputies of the Hong Kong SAR to the 9th NPC back in Dec. 1997, when Hong Kong first attained the independent status, the election of deputies to the 10th NPC this time was an improvement. The latest election was based on the principle of developing democracy in a gradual way. Such is illustrated by the enlargement of the electoral conference from 424 members in 1997 to the current 955 members.

Besides, in the 1997 election, a principle of "winning by a relative majority" was adopted, while in the latest election, the principle of "winning by an absolute majority" was adopted. In other words, candidates needed to have obtained the votes of more than half of the members of the electoral conference before he or she had the chance to win. Such has made the election all the more air and just.

The principle of ensuring that the election is open, fair and just has been practically applied to the whole election process in concrete terms. For example, the electoral conference has set a quorum of over half of the conference members for the plenary sessions to be held. Candidates were required to be backed up by at least ten nominations from among the electoral conference members when registering to stand for the election.

During voting, the electoral conference members were required to pick no more than 36 names. Before the vote, the candidates' names and biographies were published and circulated to the conference members for gaining better understanding of the candidates. Secret ballot was also adopted in both the preliminary and final rounds of the election.

The entire election process has been open to both the local and foreign press for coverage. The high level of transparency of the election can be further illustrated by the appointment of a spokesperson by the presidium of the electoral conference to address the issues of concerns of the news media.

In short, the election was held in an open, fair and just manner throughout the process, which has also given play to democracy and has proceeded in strict accordance with the law.

In the election held Tuesday to officially elect the 36 Hong Kong SAR deputies to the 10th NPC by secret ballot, it was again conducted in accordance with the law.

The results of the election will be filed by the presidium of the electoral conference to the NPC's credentials committee for examination.

It is appropriate to say that the votes cast by the electoral conference members are sacred in the sense that people who embrace the principle of "one country, two systems" and obey China's Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law have been elected deputies. Such are also patriotic people who love Hong Kong. The successful election of such people is for the Hong Kong SAR's benefit and has fulfilled the wishes of a wide representation of the Hong Kong community.

Earlier, during the nomination period from Nov. 4 to 18, people from various walks of life in Hong Kong enthusiastically registered to stand for the election. A total of 99 Hong Kong residents had obtained registration forms, with 78 of them successfully completing the registration procedure. Such procedure included the handing in of their registration forms together with at least ten nomination letters from members of the electoral conference.

On Nov. 29, the electoral conference held a preliminary election in which 54 candidates were officially elected.

Deputies to the NPC possess a high status and are entrusted with heavy responsibilities. It is believed that such law-abiding deputies will faithfully carry out their responsibilities and work for the prosperity of China as a whole and the Hong Kong SAR in particular.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2002)