More than 100 fishing boats parade at the Victoria Harbour to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland in Hong Kong, south China, July 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai)

BEIJING -- The amended Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) are profoundly important for the lasting prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee said Tuesday.

The amendments, which highlighted institutional guarantees to ensure the "patriots administering Hong Kong" principle, are also of great significance to the implementation of the policies of "one country, two systems," "the people of Hong Kong administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy for the region in a full and faithful manner, said Zang Tiewei, spokesperson for the commission.

The amended annexes, adopted by the top legislature Tuesday, mark a key step in the "decision plus amendment" approach to improve the electoral system of the HKSAR, Zang said.

Zang noted that as an important component of HKSAR's political system, the electoral system matters to whether the power to administer Hong Kong can be held firmly in the hands of patriots who love both the country and Hong Kong.

While timely fixing the loopholes in the region's electoral system, the improvements also make it more representative and ensure more balanced public participation, he said.

He also pointed out that the improvements will help enhance the efficacy of the administration of the HKSAR and lay the constitutional basis and legal framework for further improvements of the political system of the region.

The "one country, two systems" needs to be constantly explored and perfected in its practice, and the latest move by the NPC and its Standing Committee is to provide institutional safeguards for the sound and sustained implementation of the "one country, two systems" in the HKSAR, ensuring lasting peace and a better future for the region, Zang said.