Hong Kong officials and representatives of the city's business, finance, labor and professional sectors voiced their firm support for improving the city's electoral system while attending a two-day symposium.

They called the improvements the key to upholding the "patriots governing Hong Kong" principle.

Their remarks were made during the symposium in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on Sunday and Monday. It was held to solicit opinions from representatives from all walks of life in Hong Kong on institutional improvement to ensure the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong".

Xia Baolong, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, also attended the symposium.

Xia said at the meeting that the "one country, two systems" principle will remain unchanged in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

He said that the key to sustaining the "one country, two systems "principle lies in fully implementing the "patriots governing Hong Kong" principle.

To this end, it is a must to improve the relevant systems to ensure that the political establishment in Hong Kong rests in the hands of genuine patriots, Xia said.

"Patriotism" means "loving the People's Republic of China", he said, adding that the vast majority of Hong Kong people are patriotic.

According to Xinhua News Agency, other symposium participants unanimously agreed that "patriots governing Hong Kong" is the core of "one country, two systems". It must be put into effect as soon as possible to achieve full and accurate implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle, they said.

It is only natural that Hong Kong should be governed by true patriots, the participants said. They added that no country would allow unpatriotic people to take charge of governance.

The participants cited the political and social chaos in Hong Kong over the past few years, saying that it was the result of failing to observe the "patriots governing Hong Kong" principle.

Prompt and law-based improvement of Hong Kong's electoral systems should be made and the central government's leading role in the city's electoral system should be recognized, the participants said.

At the same time, the city will also improve the selection and nomination process for government officials, strengthen national education and create a better environment for expressing views in Hong Kong.

Only when the political situation in Hong Kong is rectified will the city be able to solve its deep-seated economic and livelihood issues, the participants said.