Socialism with Chinese Characteristics Enters a New Era

3. Maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao

Since the return of Hong Kong and Macao, the practice of “one country, two systems” has achieved universally recognized success. For more than 20 years, “one country, two systems” has been successfully practiced in Hong Kong and Macao, and has grown vigorously and yielded fruitful results in the storm. Since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, Hong Kong’s economic growth rate has been in the forefront of developed economies, and its status as an international financial, shipping and trade center has been further consolidated, and it has become one of the most dynamic cities in Asia, one of the freest economies in the world and one of the most competitive economies in the world. Since Macao’s return to the motherland, Macao has enjoyed social stability, economic development, residents living and working in peace and contentment, and multiculturalism has developed well, and is striving to achieve its goal of becoming a world center of tourism and leisure. The development of Hong Kong and Macao has fully proved that the principle of “one country, two systems” is correct and that the practice of “one country, two systems” is successful.

To maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, it is necessary to fully and accurately implement the principles of “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong”, “Macao people administering Macao” and a high degree of autonomy, improve the system for the central authorities to exercise overall jurisdiction over the SAR in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law, improve the system and mechanism for the appointment and removal of the chief executive and principal officials of the SAR, the system of interpretation of the Basic Law by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and exercise the powers entrusted to the Central Committee by the Constitution and the Basic Law in accordance with the law. Persist in administering Hong Kong and Macao in accordance with the law, safeguard the constitutional order established by the Constitution and the Basic Law, establish and improve the SAR’s legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security, and support the SAR in strengthening its law enforcement forces; improve the degree of accountability of the Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region to the Central Government, and support the Chief Executive and the SAR Government in their administration in accordance with the law. To fully and accurately implement the principles of “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong”, “Macao people administering Macao” and a high degree of autonomy, it is necessary to combine upholding the principle of “one country” with respecting the differences between the “two systems”, safeguarding the central government’s overall jurisdiction over the SAR and guaranteeing the SAR’s right to a high degree of autonomy, giving play to the strong backing role of the motherland’s hinterland, and enhancing the SAR’s own competitiveness. Improve the SAR’s systems and mechanisms related to the implementation of the Constitution and the Basic Law, adhere to the principle of “Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong” and “Macao people administering Macao” with patriots as the main body, and improve the SAR’s ability and level of governance according to law.

To maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, we will never tolerate any behavior that challenges the bottom line of “one country, two systems” and any act of separatism, and resolutely prevent and curb the interference of external forces in Hong Kong and Macao affairs and separatism, subversion, infiltration and sabotage activities. Hong Kong is a pluralistic society, and it is not surprising that there are different opinions or even major differences on some specific issues, but it should not fall into the vortex of “pan-politicization” and trample on the political bottom line of “one country, two systems.” Hong Kong is an inseparable part of the country, and under no circumstances will it be allowed to engage in “Hong Kong independence” or so-called “self-determination” in any form, which is the untouchable bottom line under “one country, two systems.” In September 2014, a small number of people in Hong Kong launched an illegal assembly to “Occupy Central”, which seriously affected Hong Kong’s rule of law tradition, disrupted Hong Kong’s social order, and affected the lives of Hong Kong people. The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core has fully and accurately implemented the principle of “one country, two systems”, firmly grasped the central government’s overall jurisdiction over Hong Kong and Macao under the Constitution and the Basic Law, and thwarted the “Occupy Central” farce plotted by separatist forces at home and abroad to disrupt Hong Kong, and has maintained the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao. On 7 November 2016, the 24th Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People’s Congress adopted the Interpretation of Article 104 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

This interpretation of the law conforms to the voice of the people and declares the central government’s firm stand of safeguarding national security and the strong will of the entire Chinese people to oppose separatism. On September 24, 2018, the Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government issued an order prohibiting the pro-independence “Hong Kong National Party” from operating in Hong Kong. On 19 February 2019, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Council made a decision confirming the validity of the order of the Secretary for Security and that the Central People’s Government supports the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in banning the “Hong Kong National Party” operate in accordance with the law. In April 2019, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region introduced into the Legislative Council the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (Amendment) Bill 2019 to enable Hong Kong to commence case-by-case co-operation with jurisdictions that do not yet have long-term mutual legal assistance arrangements. The initial aim was to address the issue of the transfer of Hong Kong residents suspected of murder in Taiwan while closing loopholes in Hong Kong’s existing legal system. On June 9, the Hong Kong opposition and “Hong Kong independence” forces carried out various radical protest activities in the name of “anti-extradition bill” peaceful marches and rallies, causing a “storm over the amendment of the extradition bill.” ”. With the demagoguery and incitement of the opposition and the intervention of external forces, various illegal activities such as “Hong Kong independence”, separatism, violent terrorist activities have intensified, and the national security risks of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have become increasingly prominent. In this regard, Comrade Xi Jinping pointed out that the continuous radical and violent crimes in Hong Kong have seriously trampled on the rule of law and social order, seriously undermined Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, and seriously challenged the bottom line of the “one country, two systems” principle. The Chinese government is unswerving in its determination to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, unswervingly in its determination to implement the principle of “one country, two systems”, and unswerving in its determination to oppose interference in Hong Kong affairs by any external forces.1 This provides important guidelines for safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, adhering to and improving the “one country, two systems” institutional system, safeguarding Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability, and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Hong Kong residents.

On 28 May 2020, the Third Session of the 13th National People’s Congress voted to adopt the Decision of the National People’s Congress on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Implementation Mechanism for Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. On June 30, the 20th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress unanimously passed the vote

The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (hereinafter referred to as the “Hong Kong National Security Law”) and listed it in Annex III of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the “Hong Kong Basic Law”). The Hong Kong National Security Law clearly stipulates the duties and institutions of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for safeguarding national security, four types of crimes and punishments: secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, collusion with foreign countries or external forces to endanger national security, case jurisdiction, application of law and procedures, and the organs of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for safeguarding national security, etc., and establishes a legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security in the Region. This is the second important law specially formulated by the central government for Hong Kong after the Hong Kong Basic Law, which is of great and far-reaching significance for adhering to and improving the “one country, two systems” institutional system, safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and ensuring Hong Kong’s long-term peace and stability, long-term prosperity and stability. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has established a Committee for Safeguarding National Security, which is responsible for safeguarding national security affairs in the Region, assumes the primary responsibility for safeguarding national security, and accepts supervision and accountability from the Central People’s Government. The Central People’s Government shall establish the Office for Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to perform its duties and exercise relevant powers in accordance with law. Since its promulgation and implementation, the Hong Kong National Security Law has formed a powerful deterrent to various anti-China and destabilizing forces inside and outside Hong Kong, providing a solid institutional guarantee for safeguarding Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability.

To maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, it is necessary to improve the mechanism for integrating Hong Kong and Macao into the overall development of the country, complementing each other’s advantages with the mainland and coordinating development, promoting the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, supporting Hong Kong and Macao in developing the economy and improving people’s livelihood, and focusing on resolving deep-seated contradictions and problems affecting social stability and long-term development. Comrade Xi Jinping stressed: “In the process of national reform and opening up in the new era, Hong Kong and Macao still have special status and unique advantages, and can still play an irreplaceable role.” “For Hong Kong and Macao, ‘one country, two systems’ is the biggest advantage, the country’s reform and opening up is the biggest stage, and the implementation of national strategies such as the joint construction of the ‘Belt and Road’ and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is a new major opportunity.1 The construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is a new measure to promote the formation of a new pattern of comprehensive opening up in the new era, and it is also a new practice to promote the development of the cause of “one country, two systems.”

Since the reform and opening up, especially after the return of Hong Kong and Macao to the motherland, the cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao has been continuously deepened, the economic strength and regional competitiveness of the Guangdong-Hong Kong- Macao Greater Bay Area have been significantly enhanced, and the basic conditions for building a world-class bay area and a world-class city cluster have been met. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge spans the Lingding Ocean, connects Hong Kong to the east, Zhuhai and Macao to the west, connecting the world’s most dynamic economic circle, and is of far-reaching significance to the integration of Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai. Relying on the advantages of Hong Kong and Macao as free and open economies and Guangdong as the vanguard of reform and opening up, we should continue to deepen reform and expand opening up, lead the country in building an institutional mechanism for high-quality economic development, play an exemplary and leading role, accelerate institutional innovation and pilot projects, build a modern economic system, better integrate into the global market system, build a base for emerging industries, advanced manufacturing and modern service industries in the world, and build a world-class city cluster.