'One Country, Two Systems' principle cornerstone for stability and prosperity

On July 1 the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region celebrates its 20th anniversary, and the first 20 years of implementing the Basic Law and "One Country, Two Systems". While reviewing the past and looking to the future it is necessary to find out how we succeeded, and why we did not, in the past 20 years. Remembering past mistakes helps one avoid repeating them.

"One Country, Two Systems" is one of the fundamental policies the central government adopted to resolve the question of Hong Kong. Through "One Country, Two Systems" China maintains not only the sovereign rule over Hong Kong but also the SAR's social stability, economic development and prosperity. That is why it is an innovative policy benefiting the country as a whole and Hong Kong in particular.

The central task of "One Country, Two Systems" in the initial stage of its implementation is to secure the resumption of sovereign rule over Hong Kong by China in a smooth handover of jurisdiction. At the same time it ensures Hong Kong's social system remains unchanged during the handover. History bears unquestionable witness to the fact that "One Country, Two Systems" passed the initial stage with flying colors. Looking back at when "One Country, Two Systems" was first announced many Hong Kong residents were so unsure and worried that they left their home city in a mini-exodus to foreign countries before the handover. Some Western media back then went so far as to declare that Hong Kong was as good as dead. As it turned out, the historical change of Hong Kong's identity went smoothly thanks to the solid foundation that is "One Country, Two Systems". Nothing terrible happened and Hong Kong did not die or lose its strengths to maintain socio-economic development. That is a rare example of ingenuity in human history.

The second stage of implementing "One Country, Two Systems" in Hong Kong began with the establishment of the HKSAR, sometimes referred to as the "unchanged for 50 years" period. The main goal for the implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" in this period is to protect the nation's sovereignty, security and development interests as well as maintain Hong Kong's social stability and economic development, all of which is what the fundamental principle is about. To be more specific, it is about taking the advantage of "One Country" to facilitate Hong Kong's development.

In 1997 Hong Kong was hit by the Asian financial storm that paralyzed Thailand and a few emerging economies in the region. It seriously shook Hong Kong's financial stability and victimized many Hong Kong people by inflicting heavy financial loss almost overnight. Not long afterwards the young SAR suffered fierce blows from SARS and bird flu epidemics with very bad economic side-effects. Then the global financial crisis of 2008 triggered the worst recession the world has felt since the 1930s. Hong Kong was fortunate to have the full support of the central government and strong national economy. This helped the SAR tide over the financial crisis and economic downturn quickly. The most important supportive measure taken by the central authorities to help Hong Kong recover was the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), which opened the mainland market wider for Hong Kong-based businesses while allowing many more mainland residents to visit Hong Kong as tourists and significantly boosting the city's consumer service industry, especially the retail sector.

If all the supportive measures taken by the central government for Hong Kong in the past 20 years have proved how crucial "One Country" is to Hong Kong's continued development, the merits of "Two Systems" are best demonstrated in the preservation of Hong Kong's capitalist way of life and its role as an international financial center and trade and logistics hub, helping mainland enterprises gain access to overseas markets and attract foreign investment as well as facilitating the yuan's transformation into a bona fide internationally traded currency.

There is no denying a hostile force has been working against the "One Country" precondition since the handover and constantly posing a grave threat to national security as well as Hong Kong's stability and prosperity. It has broken Hong Kong laws numerous times while opposing national security legislation according to Article 23 of the Basic Law, blocking national education in schools and blackmailing the central authorities by taking Hong Kong's economy hostage with the "Occupy Central" illegal movement. When all those desperate attempts to turn the whole Hong Kong society against the motherland failed, it resorted to sheer violence with the Mong Kok riot, publicly advertising "pro-independence" and anti-China sentiments during swearing-in of lawmakers and brainwashing students with separatist ideas in local schools.

Not surprisingly such outrageous acts to jeopardize the overall interest of Hong Kong society as well as national interest have been roundly condemned and rejected by the public. That goes to show Hong Kong society must never let its guard down against all manner of separatism and attempts to undermine the implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" in the HKSAR.

The author is a professor with the Faculty of Law at Macao University. His commentary originally appeared in Chinese in Ta Kung Pao on June 13.

(HK Edition 06/22/2017 page1)