Far from undermining Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, the promulgation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and implementation of electoral reform in the special administrative region have given “one country, two systems” a new lease on life.
Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, has spelled out unambiguously what that means for Hong Kong residents. In a word, the pledge of 50 years of “no change”, which may end in 2047, can be extended; and Hong Kong’s capitalist system and way of life may continue long thereafter. Never have Western critics and local anti-government activists been more wrong about the present situation and future prospects of Hong Kong.
Our children need to be taught their city has the best political system that is appropriate to the actual conditions and circumstances. Under the guidance of “one country, two systems”, their future is brighter than ever. They are the luckiest generation, if only they realize it
It’s not the first time that senior central government officials have made similar remarks. But Xia is right to make sure people understand that Beijing’s commitment to “one country, two systems” is unwavering, indeed always serious. Addressing delegates from Hong Kong at the annual two sessions in Beijing, he said Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy could last far beyond 2047.
Beijing has steadfastly upheld its promise of “50 years no change”, even in the face of foreign provocation and local agitation such as during the illegal “Occupy Central” movement in 2014 and the far-more damaging riots in 2019. Yet, maliciously, the British government and its ideological partner, the United States, continue to claim that Beijing has violated the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, which serves the primary purpose of ensuring Hong Kong’s rightful and peaceful reunification with its motherland.
In reality, the Joint Declaration has served its purpose and is largely irrelevant today. The guarantee of “one country, two systems” rests on the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the constitutional document derived from China’s Constitution that provides the institutional framework for the HKSAR’s governance. There has never been better protection and security for the city than now.
There is now much better coordination and cooperation between the central authorities and the region’s administrators. These extend to the working of the city’s legal system, law enforcement, and patriotic elections and, in the latest omicron outbreak, public health, etc. With their wealth of experience and knowledge, mainland medical experts and front-line workers have been seconded to the city to help fight the coronavirus. Meanwhile, the central authorities have made sure the city receives the best and most stable food and daily necessities supply. A whopping 900 million yuan ($141.5 million) worth of supplies have been dispatched to the city from the Chinese mainland in recent months.
This show of support — indeed, the depths of love and concern shown by our mainland brethren — is unfortunately sometimes contrasted with the lack of appreciation among some Hong Kong residents who have even questioned the mainland’s “intervention”. If a family can’t help its next of kin, you have to wonder about the twisted thinking of some local people.
Xia’s comments are all the more welcome in these trying times to remind people of the country’s love and commitment to the city.
He further explained the significance of the National Security Law, which seeks to uphold the high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong, not to substitute for it. As President Xi Jinping said during a 2017 visit to Hong Kong, he hoped for the “long-term successful practice” of “one country, two systems”.
In a Legislative Council meeting in 2020, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor also said that Hong Kong’s unique constitutional setup “will be practiced smoothly in the long term, and will not be changed after 2047”.
The security law has restored order and stability after the violence and chaos of 2019 instigated by demagogic politicians and radical opposition activists and supported by foreign forces. Thankfully, the central authorities’ skillful intervention has neutered the subversive forces while compelling malignant foreign elements to withdraw from the city. Now foreign forces can only huff and puff from afar, making meaningless noises. Still, their underhanded ability to libel “one country, two systems” and Hong Kong should not be ignored, especially when it presents a dangerously distorted picture for people from their own countries who are unfamiliar with China and the city in particular.
Hong Kong people who love their country and their city, and responsible and conscientious news professionals, must tell the world our side of the story and accurately reflect our blessings and our challenges. More than ever, this story needs to be repeated at a time when global discourse has been heavily and blatantly manipulated and propagandized by Western interests.
As all Chinese know, without the nation, there is no family. Before “two systems”, there must be “one country”. Hong Kong’s future is assured under this traditional Chinese conception, revitalized for the 21st century. Different plants require different conditions to grow and flourish. There is no one-size-fits-all soil. The genius of Chinese people is our flexibility in adapting to changing conditions.
Our children need to be taught their city has the best political system that is appropriate to the actual conditions and circumstances. Under the guidance of “one country, two systems”, their future is brighter than ever. They are the luckiest generation, if only they realize it.
The author is a veteran journalist with extensive experience covering Chinese mainland and Hong Kong social and political issues.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.