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HK edition / 2022-07 / 05 / Page008

Understanding of 'one country, two systems' is key to success of the SAR

By Henry Ho | HK EDITION | Updated: 2022-07-05 08:44

Henry Ho says the political framework remains best institutional arrangement for HK, benefiting city, nation as a whole

President Xi Jinping's landmark speech on July 1 should be regarded as one with historic significance, which has both reviewed the practice of "one country, two systems" (OCTS) in the past and mapped out the way forward for this innovative policy in the future.

"One country, two systems" is an unprecedented and innovative systemic design, which was proposed by the Communist Party of China under the leadership of Mr Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s. It embodies the Chinese wisdom of resolving international disputes through the integration of both sovereignty principles and systemic flexibility. As President Xi said in his Friday speech after the swearing-in ceremony for the governing team of the sixth-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, Hong Kong has made an irreplaceable contribution to the country's economic miracle, marked by long-term, stable and rapid growth. Hong Kong, of course, has largely achieved prosperity and stability in the past decades by serving as the gateway between a modernizing and thriving China and the rest of the world.

Not only is the design of OCTS unprecedented, but also is its insistence on "50 years unchanged" as enshrined in the Basic Law. "No one ever steps in the same river twice." Change is the norm rather than the exception in human lives. Many people in Hong Kong tend to view the changes that they would not like to happen as "evidence" of the "deviation" from the principle of OCTS. Therefore, a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the meaning of OCTS is of paramount importance, without which a full and accurate implementation would not be possible. At the 25th anniversary of the HKSAR, President Xi's Friday speech exactly serves the purpose of illustrating the theoretical essence of OCTS, its prerequisite, its essential components, and most importantly, how it can be sustained in the long term.

First, he explicitly highlights that safeguarding national security, sovereignty and development interests remains the ultimate goal of the principle of OCTS. The Hong Kong and Macao SARs can maintain their ways of life and capitalist systems only if this prerequisite is met. This represents a further elaboration of his argument five years ago, which stated that "one country" is like the roots of a tree. For a tree to grow tall, its roots must run deep and strong.

Second, as "one country" is the prerequisite, Hong Kong residents should willingly respect and uphold the country's fundamental system, which is a socialist system with Chinese characteristics, with the leadership of the Communist Party of China as its defining feature. In the past, Hong Kong residents cherished the SAR's own system without sufficient understanding of and support for the country's fundamental system. We must understand accurately the fundamental meaning and purpose of the OCTS principle and cherish the current implementation mechanism, which promotes prosperity and stability.

Third and most importantly, OCTS is of huge benefit to the whole nation as well as to the two SARs and receives strong support from all Chinese people, including those who reside in Hong Kong and Macao. It also receives the strong support and recognition of the international community. President Xi stressed that the OCTS principle should be upheld in the long run, and there is no reason to change it at all. This indeed is a firm commitment to the world and a timely response to those who have accused Beijing of not upholding or undermining "one country, two systems".

"Patriots administering Hong Kong" remains the most important guiding principle for governing Hong Kong, if the OCTS policy is to be sustained in the long term. As this principle has been effectively implemented following the completion of the three elections under the revamped electoral system, improving governance becomes the top priority of the new SAR government. That explains why the enhancement of the institutional system and governance capability as well as its efficacy tops the "four expectations" of President Xi for the new SAR government. More political talents from outside the government should also be recruited to further strengthen the governance capability.

"One country, two systems" remains the best institutional arrangement for Hong Kong, which benefits both the city and the nation as a whole. Yet we should be mindful that Hong Kong's unique system should not be taken for granted. The essence of "one country, two systems" lies in the fact that Hong Kong's system should be different from that of the mainland yet at the same time beneficial to the nation. I am optimistic that with the support of the central government and the better understanding of OCTS among Hong Kong residents, Hong Kong stands ready for a relaunch under the leadership of Mr John Lee Ka-chiu, the new chief executive.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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