On July 1, at the assembly commemorating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the inauguration of its sixth-term SAR government, President Xi Jinping delivered an inspiring speech that perfectly encapsulates the central government’s fundamental stance on “one country, two systems” and its expectations of the SAR. President Xi’s elaboration was extremely timely and necessary for the purpose of elucidating the practice of “one country, two systems” and strategies for promoting and fostering prosperity, stability and development in Hong Kong, as the SAR is entering a new stage of development. The comprehensive and succinct statements were precisely what the city needed after overcoming its worst insurrection and now finally began to turn a new page.
Over the past 25 years, Hong Kong has remained an incredibly competitive international financial center and a vital gateway to myriads of commercial prospects, which is a slap in the face to China-bashers in the West who keep demonizing China and its Hong Kong SAR and downplaying the success of “one country, two systems” in their attempt to undermine China’s development. The central government has affirmed on several occasions that “one country, two systems” is executed through practice and substantiation, and has been tested and challenged, proved to be practicable and successful.
President Xi’s speech has made a considerable and profound impression on me personally. He has asserted that it is imperative to safeguard the comprehensive jurisdiction of the central government over Hong Kong while simultaneously preserving a high degree of autonomy for the SAR. When we are able to thoroughly comprehend and appreciate this exposition, we will then truly be able to understand and value the essence and spirit of “one country, two systems”.
Additionally, President Xi emphasized that the successful implementation of “one country, two systems” is premised on upholding the nation’s sovereignty, security and development interests. Hong Kong and Macao have both remained prosperous under this innovative political framework, which features a high degree of autonomy and a capitalist system. It is conceivable that Hong Kong will continue to enjoy a high degree of autonomy as long as national sovereignty, security and development interests are safeguarded.
Hong Kong is an integral part of China; the HKSAR was established according to Article 31 of China’s Constitution, and is bound by the relevant National People’s Congress decisions, as well as the various institutional frameworks set up by the National People’s Congress. Upon its return to the motherland, Hong Kong’s new constitutional order was established by the national Constitution and the Basic Law. Article 12 of the Basic Law is the foundation of Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, which stipulates: “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be a local administrative region of the People’s Republic of China, which shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy and come directly under the Central People’s Government.”
Furthermore, the central government has the sole power to appoint the chief executive and other principal officials of Hong Kong. According to Article 48 of the Basic Law, the chief executive must implement any directives issued by the central government in respect of the relevant matters provided for in the Basic Law. Further to that, the Basic Law may be interpreted and modified by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. The NPC has the authority to make decisions regarding Hong Kong’s political system, such as the ones made in the past two years on the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the city’s new electoral system, embodying the comprehensive jurisdiction of the central government over Hong Kong.
As President Xi succinctly put it, the implementation of the central government’s comprehensive jurisdiction over Hong Kong and the maintenance of the SAR’s high degree of autonomy are inextricably linked. He asserted that only by organically combining the central government’s comprehensive jurisdiction over Hong Kong and the latter’s high degree of autonomy can Hong Kong achieve effective governance. In the past, some ill-intentioned individuals have attempted to deceive the public into believing that Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy will be compromised by the application of the central government’s comprehensive jurisdiction over the SAR, and that a high degree of autonomy is akin to full autonomy. In reality, the two elements are intertwined and inseparable, as President Xi explicitly declared in his remarks.
President Xi also reiterated the need for closer collaboration between the SAR’s legislative and executive branches. The Legislative Council is a crucial component of the special administrative region’s political establishment, which should dutifully and efficiently perform its functions and exercise its powers conferred by the law, including the enactment, amendment and repeal of laws, as well as monitoring the executive’s operations.
Soon after taking office, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu participated in a question-and-answer session with Legislative Council members and coordinated antechamber meetings for officials and legislators to exchange ideas. These moves demonstrated his commitment to and sincerity in fostering a closer relationship between the executive and the legislative branches, which is a positive start for constructive interactions between the two.
For Hong Kong to create a new glory and achieve long-term prosperity, the executive and legislative branches of the SAR government should strengthen communication and cooperation on policy formulation and legislation, and most importantly, put President Xi’s “four musts” and “four proposals” into practice.
The author is a member of China Retold, the founder of SaveHK, and a Central Committee member of the New People’s Party.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.