Drafts on election methods to NPC spell out criteria for HK, Macao

Candidates standing for election to the National People's Congress (NPC) from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SARs) shall bear allegiance to China and declare that they have not received foreign funds in relation to the election, say drafts on election methods to be submitted to China's national legislature.

The drafts were explained to a NPC plenary session Wednesday by Wang Chen, vice chairman and general secretary of the NPC Standing Committee.

A copy of Wang's speech was made available to media before the plenary session.

The NPC deputies are members of the highest organ of State power who exercise State power on behalf of the people. Therefore, they should declare in the Participant's Registration Form that they uphold the Chinese Constitution and bear allegiance to China, Wang said, citing the drafts.

The NPC deputies from Hong Kong and Macao should also declare they uphold the Basic Laws, bear allegiance to the SARs, and endorse the policy of "one country, two systems," the drafts say.

According to the drafts, candidates should also declare that they have not received and will not receive, directly or indirectly, any form of funds in relation to the election from any foreign institution, organization or individual.

This requirement is to safeguard the security of the State and prevent foreign powers from interfering in the elections, Wang said.

If a candidate is found and verified to have received any foreign funds, the candidate's election will be declared null and void, said Wang.

The number of seats on the 13th NPC allocated to Hong Kong and Macao SARs are 36 and 12 respectively, the same as the current 12th NPC.

To be eligible for candidacy, one has to be nominated by 10 or more members of the election councils at first.

The drafts are expected to be voted before the 12th NPC concludes its fifth session on March 15.