HONG KONG -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday hailed Hong Kong's "patriots-only" general election as a success and said that citizens can exercise their democratic rights during a meeting with the city's Chief Executive Carrie Lam in Beijing.
"The democratic right of the majority of Hong Kong compatriots to be their own masters has been reflected," Xi said in comments broadcast in Hong Kong from Beijing. "This practice proves that the new electoral system conforms to the 'one country, two systems' principle," he added, referring to the system under which Hong Kong is governed. Lam is visiting Beijing for her annual briefing with Chinese officials on social, political and economic issues in the city.
