On Oct 16, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China that “one country, two systems” (OCTS) is a pioneering project emanating from “socialism with Chinese characteristics” as well as its integral component.
It is the best institutional arrangement for maintaining the long-term stability of Hong Kong after its return to the motherland, and it must be adhered to for a long time to come. General Secretary Xi Jinping believes that to ensure the long-term success of OCTS, it is necessary to faithfully realize the overall jurisdiction of the central authorities over the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, integrate seamlessly the overall jurisdiction of the central authorities with the high degree of autonomy of the city, protect the constitutional order of Hong Kong made up of the national Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law, bolster and make improvements in the institutions and procedures undergirding OCTS, implement forcefully the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”, install the laws and enforcement mechanisms needed by the city to safeguard national security, uphold the executive-led governance, support the HKSAR government in running Hong Kong in accordance with the law, beef up the administrative capability and performance of the HKSAR, improve its judicial and legal system, and safeguard the capitalist system of Hong Kong and the lifestyle of its residents. General Secretary Xi Jinping also promises to maintain Hong Kong’s capitalist system and way of life; advance Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability; promote Hong Kong’s economic development; improve people’s livelihoods; resolve the deep-seated socioeconomic contradictions and problems such as the housing shortage, narrow industrial base, worsening poverty, staggering income inequality and dearth of upward mobility opportunities for young people; accelerate Hong Kong’s integration into the overall development of the country; and enable Hong Kong to make greater contributions to the enterprise of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The main contents of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s remarks were announced in his speech on July 1 this year at the ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland in his capacity as the president of the People’s Republic of China. Since they are now solemnly included in the general secretary’s report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, the determination and will of the central authorities to implement the policy of OCTS in Hong Kong for a long time to come are now unmistakably enunciated. This will definitely strengthen the confidence of Hong Kong residents and the international community in the future of the city.
Today, given the breathtaking changes in Hong Kong, the country, and the world in recent years, the grim and threatening external political and economic environment haunting the city, and in the wake of recent changes in the central authorities’ stance toward Hong Kong, the practice of OCTS has entered a new era. As a major policy of the CPC and the Chinese government, OCTS is closely related to the construction of “socialism with Chinese characteristics”, the achievement of the second centenary goal of the country, the realization of China’s complete reunification, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Accordingly, OCTS has become an inordinately important national policy. Consequently, it must be comprehensively and accurately implemented, and there is no room for mistakes or deviations. The way Hong Kong develops in the future must also be designed and understood in the context of the development of the country. Hong Kong’s development strategy and the development strategy of the mainland must be in sync to create a “win-win” outcome. In the new situation, the central authorities will adroitly and effectively exercise its overall jurisdiction over Hong Kong and, working in tandem with the HKSAR’s high degree of autonomy, ensure the successful practice and long-term development of OCTS in Hong Kong, as well as promote the city’s long-term prosperity, stability, progress, and effective governance.
Today, given the breathtaking changes in Hong Kong, the country, and the world in recent years, the grim and threatening external political and economic environment haunting the city, and in the wake of recent changes in the central authorities’ stance toward Hong Kong, the practice of OCTS has entered a new era. As a major policy of the CPC and the Chinese government, OCTS is closely related to the construction of “socialism with Chinese characteristics”, the achievement of the second centenary goal of the country, the realization of China’s complete reunification, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Accordingly, OCTS has become an inordinately important national policy
In the past few years, the promulgation and implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the profound reform of the city’s electoral system have completely quelled the violent turmoil in Hong Kong, expelled hostile forces from its governance institutions, forbidden external agents from wreaking havoc in the city, brought about the political dominance of the patriots, and fundamentally reshaped its political landscape. These efforts undoubtedly represent the best example of the central authorities effectively exercising their overall jurisdiction over Hong Kong to bring the longstanding “delinquent” practice of OCTS back on track. Based on what General Secretary Xi Jinping said in the report to the 20th Party Congress, we can foresee that the central authorities will continue to use their overall jurisdiction over Hong Kong to grow and strengthen the city’s patriotic forces; enhance the relevant institutions and procedures of OCTS; strengthen Hong Kong’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms in safeguarding national security, including but not confined to the local legislation according to Article 23 of the Basic Law; increase their role in leading and guiding the HKSAR government, promote economic, trade, and scientific and technological cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland; promote the transformation and upgrading of Hong Kong’s industrial structure and consolidate Hong Kong’s position in the fields of international finance, trade, shipping and aviation, innovation and technology, culture, and tourism. The central authorities will vigorously assist Hong Kong in removing those factors that hamper the resolution of those deep-seated contradictions and problems, especially land and housing, the disparity between rich and poor, poverty, and the narrowness of the industrial base. The efforts of the central authorities will very likely also include helping the HKSAR government and patriotic forces reduce opposition from the vested interests that would fall “victim” to the institutional and policy reforms to be undertaken by the HKSAR government in its attempt to strengthen Hong Kong’s competitiveness; build a fair and just society; and increase the opportunities for upward mobility for the young people and increase their feeling of belonging to Hong Kong and the nation. In addition, as the containment and harassment of Hong Kong by the United States and its Western allies will continue to increase, such as imposing a technological embargo on Hong Kong and thrashing individuals and entities with sanctions, the HKSAR perforce will become more dependent on the country for developmental opportunities, markets and resources. Therefore, the central authorities’ staunch and reliable support for Hong Kong is not only important but also necessary.
At the same time, Hong Kong needs to do its utmost to contribute to the development of the country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The overall direction is to give full play to Hong Kong’s capabilities to serve the country, particularly making good use of the city’s unique advantages under OCTS to meet the needs of the nation. In his speech on July 1, President Xi Jinping outlined Hong Kong’s unique advantages, including “being fully backed up by the motherland and intimately connected to the world,” “free, open and regulated business environment,” “the common law system,” and “smooth and convenient international links”. President Xi Jinping believes that it is precisely because of these unique advantages that Hong Kong can contribute significantly to the historical processes of comprehensively building a modern socialist country and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
At present and in the future, to counter the relentless and multipronged containment by the US and the West, deglobalization, protectionism, unilateralism and global economic recession, China will step up efforts to promote regional economic, trade, and scientific and technological cooperation in Asia, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, accelerate the internationalization and digitization of the renminbi and build broader ties with other developing countries, especially the Southeast Asian countries. As an international metropolis, international financial center, international service center, international legal arbitration center and world information and media hub, Hong Kong should be in a favorable position to actively participate in the country’s international strategy and foreign policies in the new era, assist the country to open up greater contacts and space to maneuver in the non-Western world and promote people-to-people exchanges between the country and other countries, especially those in Southeast, South and Central Asia. The city can also assist the country to gain soft power around the world by disseminating Chinese culture and the Chinese perspective on global affairs in a way that can be more easily understood and accepted by people in other nations. Consequently, Hong Kong can help the country gain more status, recognition and respect in the world, and better counter the onslaught of Western propaganda and misinformation.
In the report to the 20th Party Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping presents to the world a beautiful picture of the future of China, the Chinese people and Hong Kong, emphatically outlining Hong Kong’s critical role in the long-term development of the country and nation, the priorities of the work to be done in the city, the direction of development and reform to be undertaken in Hong Kong, and the forms of cooperation between the central authorities and the HKSAR on the city’s affairs. It can be believed that the foundation of OCTS in Hong Kong will be made more solid, and OCTS will be able to better play its expected role in benefiting the country, the HKSAR and its residents.
The author is a professor emeritus of sociology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.