On March 14, 2021, Ambassador Cui Tiankai's op-ed "With patriots governing Hong Kong, ‘one country, two systems' is guaranteed" was published on the website of The South China Morning Post (also in the print edition of March 15). Here is the full text of the article:

With Patriots Governing Hong Kong, "One Country, Two Systems" Is Guaranteed

The 4th session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) of China held recently made a decision to improve Hong Kong's electoral system. The purpose is to provide an institutional guarantee for the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong", and ultimately for the long-term implementation of "one country, two systems". To gain an accurate understanding, let me share with you the following perspectives.

First and foremost, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a subnational jurisdiction of China, whose political system, including the electoral system, shall be decided by the central government. The NPC is China's top legislature. Its decision to improve Hong Kong's electoral system fully accords with China's Constitution and the Basic Law of Hong Kong, and holds indisputable legitimacy and authority. In unitary states, it is a common constitutional provision and political practice for the central government to decide how local elections are held, and there is nothing to find fault with.

Many concerns have been raised about "patriots governing Hong Kong", which I am afraid is hard to understand. A country's citizens and, in particular, public servants should love their country – isn't it the very least to be expected?

It is also common international practice to demand that people in public office pledge loyalty to their country. For example, in the United States, citizens need to swear allegiance to the state, and for those in public office, the requirement is more stringent. Hong Kong, as a Chinese SAR, shall be governed by people who love their country. I don't see any problem with that.

On the other hand, because there are deficiencies in Hong Kong's electoral system and because not all those in public office are patriots, some people have been able to exploit the situation. In recent years, especially since the violent protests in 2019, some forces have entered various government and legislative institutions via election and engaged in anti-China activities to disrupt Hong Kong's social order. They even plotted to take control of the Legislative Council to dominate the administration of Hong Kong.

Let us suppose this is in the US-how would Americans respond to such a situation? Well, the answer can be easily found from what happened in the US not long ago. In the case of Hong Kong, external forces keep on bolstering the rioters and those behind them. By improving the electoral system, we are able to eliminate such risks and close an institutional loophole to ensure the stability of Hong Kong. The central government is honouring its constitutional responsibility since the introduction of Hong Kong's national security law.

There have also been concerns that Hong Kong's democracy will be eroded, which is completely unnecessary. Democracy had simply been nonexistent in Hong Kong during its 150-plus years of colonial rule, and has only been established since its return to China, which has given Hong Kong people democratic rights they never enjoyed before. The NPC's decision will lead to a new electoral system that suits Hong Kong's realities and reflects the interests of society. It will ensure extensive and balanced political participation, and defend the rights of every permanent resident of Hong Kong to vote and stand for election.

The principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong" does not mean that we will drive out diversity. "Patriots" covers a wide scope, and we have always been broad-minded towards those with different political opinions. Simply put, to improve the electoral system is to ensure a healthier and better development of Hong Kong's democracy. Those paying lip service to democracy are either imposing their own models on others or using democracy to meddle with other countries' internal affairs. This goes completely against the spirit of democracy.

The claims that "one country, two systems" will be weakened cannot be more wrong. Since Hong Kong's return, "patriots governing Hong Kong" has been an essential principle of "one country, two systems". To improve the electoral system is not to deny or abandon "one country, two systems". Quite the opposite, it is to return to its very foundation and ensure its development in the right direction. Only on the basis of that can Hong Kong eliminate fundamental instability, avoid unnecessary damage and concentrate on the development and people's livelihoods.

We Chinese believe that misfortune may be a blessing in disguise. I am sure that once the loopholes are closed, we will again see a stable and prosperous Hong Kong. It will be wonderful news and bring huge opportunities to Hong Kong residents and foreign investors, including American ones. As the famous Hong Kong song Below the Lion Rock says, let us be of one mind to pursue our dreams, and together we will strive to write a timeless story of our home.

2021年3月14日，驻美国大使崔天凯在《南华早报》网站发表题为《确保“爱国者治港”，稳固“一国两制”》的署名文章（3月15日刊登于该报纸质版）。全文译文如下：

确保“爱国者治港”，稳固“一国两制”

近日，中国十三届全国人大四次会议就完善香港特别行政区选举制度作出了决定。这一举措的核心意义是从制度上确保“爱国者治港”，保障“一国两制”实践行稳致远。我们可以从几方面来准确理解。

首先也是最基本的，香港特区是中国的一个地方行政区域，其政治体制包括选举制度的决定权在中央。作为中国最高权力机关，全国人民代表大会从宪制层面完善香港选举制度，完全符合宪法和香港基本法，正当性、权威性无可争议。事实上，由国家层面决定地方的选举制度是所有单一制国家共同的宪法制度和政治实践，本来就不应被拿来做文章。

很多人对完善香港选举制度中强调“爱国者治港”原则有关切。恕我对此不能理解。爱国难道不是一个国家每个公民最朴素的情感和最起码的素质吗？更遑论公职人员了。

对管治者的爱国立场和政治资格做出严格要求是世界通行做法，美国对一般公民的政治效忠就有明确要求，对公职人员的政治效忠更是有严格要求。香港是中国的特区，我们把香港的管治权交到爱国者手里，有何问题？

换个角度看，正是因为香港选举制度机制存在明显缺陷，“爱国者治港”得不到全面落实，才给了一些人可乘之机。近几年来特别是2019年“修例风波”以来，一些势力通过各类选举进入特区治理架构，利用这些平台或公职身份进行反中乱港活动，他们甚至预谋通过选举掌控立法会主导权、夺取香港管治权。

如果这发生在美国，大家会做何反应呢？不久前这里发生的事已经给了我们答案。但对那些在香港作乱作怪的人，境外势力却一直在为其说项张目。我们此次完善香港选举制度，就是要从制度机制上消除隐患和风险。这也是继制定香港维护国家安全法之后，中央再次承担宪制责任，弥补香港制度漏洞。

有人“很担心”香港的民主会受到损害。这完全是多虑。要知道香港在殖民统治150多年间没有任何民主可言，回归后才真正开启了民主发展进程，香港居民开始享有前所未有的民主权利。此次完善香港选举制度，将会形成一套符合香港实际情况、体现社会整体利益的新的民主选举制度，也依法保障香港同胞广泛的、均衡的政治参与，依法保障香港永久性居民依法享有的选举权和被选举权。

在“爱国者”界定上，我们也决不是要搞“清一色”，爱国者的范围过去是、现在是、将来也是广泛的。只要爱国，即使持有不同政见，我们也能包容。简言之，完善选举制度是为了保障香港民主制度更健康、更顺利地发展。倒是那些动辄鼓吹民主的人，不是将一己之民主模式强加于别人，就是打着民主旗号干涉别国内政，完全违背民主的要义。

至于“一国两制”会被动摇的说法就更没有道理了。从香港回归开始，‘爱国者治港'便是‘一国两制'的核心原则。完善选举制度不是否定和放弃“一国两制”，而正是要回归“一国两制”的初心，确保其在正确方向上向前发展。在此基础上，香港才能平靖乱源、减少内耗、聚焦解决发展和民生问题。

祸兮福之所倚，香港会在矫枉纠偏中由乱至治。这对包括在港投资兴业和生活的美国人在内的各方而言，是机遇和福音。期待如《狮子山下》歌中吟唱那样，大家“理想一起去追”，缔造更多“不朽香江名句”。