Chinese Party Paper Editorial on Hong Kong Anniversary

Jul 01, 05:55 AM

Current Headlines: Text of report by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency)

[Renmin Ribao 1 July editorial transmitted by Xinhua on 30 June: "Great Concept, Successful Practice - Congratulations on the 10th Anniversary of Hong Kong's Return to the Motherland"]

Beijing, 30 Jun (Xinhua) - It is 1 July 2007 today. Ten years ago today, as ardently expected by the people of all ethnic groups across the country, China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. Having experienced many vicissitudes of life for a century, Hong Kong returned to the arms of the motherland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China was established. This is a splendid victory in the history of the Chinese nation.

The 10 years since Hong Kong's return to the motherland are 10 years in which the scientific concept of "one country, two systems" has turned into a vivid reality, are 10 years in which "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy have been practiced, and are also 10 years in which Hong Kong has maintained its prosperity and stability.

In the early 1980's, Comrade Deng Xiaoping put forward the great concept of "one country, two systems" with the wisdom, courage and resourcefulness of a great statesman, which opened up a workable way to resolve by means of peaceful talks the Hong Kong issue left behind by history. The party's third-generation central leading collective with Comrade Jiang Zemin as the core calmly responded to, and properly handled, various kinds of challenges and complicated problems encountered before and after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, ensured the smooth and steady transition in Hong Kong, realized the smooth hand-over of Hong Kong, and made historical contribution to Hong Kong's successfully implementation of the great concept of "one country, two systems." The party Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as the general secretary has regarded promoting the development of the cause of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong as an important task in running the country, sought truth, been pragmatic, forged ahead in a pioneering spirit, and further enriched the theory and practice of "one country, two systems."

In the past 10 years, the Central Government has unswervingly implemented the policies of "one country, two systems,""Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy, acted in strict accordance with the HKSAR Basic Law, gone all out to support the HKSAR Chief Executive and Government in carrying out administration according to law, and gone all out to support the progress and development of various undertakings in Hong Kong. The HKSAR Government has united with and led the people of all social sectors in Hong Kong in making unremitting efforts to improve themselves, working with a combatant spirit, overcoming various kinds of difficulties and meeting various kinds of challenges brought by the financial crisis in Asia, the unfavourable changes in the external economic environment, the untypical pneumonia epidemic, and so on, and maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. In Hong Kong today, the economy is growing, the people's living standard is improving, democracy is developing, and the people are living and working in peace and contentment. Hong Kong is full of vigour and vitality and shows a favourable momentum of positive development.

Practice has proved that "one country, two systems" is workable. Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy have been practiced under the unified sovereignty of the People's Republic of China and in accordance with the HKSAR Basic Law. Hong Kong's original society, economic system and ways of living have remained unchanged and Hong Kong's laws have basically remained unchanged. Hong Kong residents are entitled to extensive freedom and democratic rights according to law and the interests of foreign investors in Hong Kong are earnestly protected. Hong Kong has continued to maintain its position as a free port and an international financial, trade and shipping centre, and has always been recognized as one of the world's freest and most open economic entities with the greatest vitality for development. In the short span of only 10 years, a series of important international activities, including the World Bank Annual Meeting, the World Congress of Accountants, the "Fortune" Global Forum, the Sixth Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization, and the Telecom World 2006 of the International Telecommunication Union have been successfully held one after another in Hong Kong. This has fully shown the international community's affirmation of and confidence in Hong Kong's development and progress since its return to the motherland.

Since its return to the motherland, Hong Kong has established closer and closer ties with the mainland. On the one hand, Hong Kong has continued to act as a bridge for the mainland's connections with the international market and a window for the mainland to introduce funds, technology and management experience and has made important contribution to the mainland's reform, opening up and modernization. On the other hand, Hong Kong has taken the vast hinterland on the mainland as its support and has obtained more opportunities and an inexhaustible propelling force for it development from the rapid development of the mainland. Since the establishment of the HKSAR, it has established mechanisms together with relevant provinces and cities on the mainland for Guangdong-Hong Kong, Shanghai-Hong Kong and Beijing-Hong Kong cooperation and for pan-Pearl River Delta cooperation. Exchanges and cooperation between the two places have constantly been deepened. The "Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement Between the Mainland and Hong Kong" signed in 2003 indicated that trade and economic cooperation between the two places had entered a brand-new stage of development. Let us just take the trade volume between the two places as an example. The trade volume increased from 1.1 trillion Hong Kong dollars in 1997 to 2.3 trillion Hong Kong dollars last year. It doubled in a short span of only 10 years.

Both the Hong Kong compatriots and the mainland people have come to understand deeper and deeper that with the "one country, two systems" policy, Hong Kong and the mainland can supplement?each other's advantages better and realize common prosperity and development better.

With the motherland behind and facing the outside world, Hong Kong enjoys exceptional geographical advantages and is faced with rare opportunities for making greater development. Seizing opportunities, taking advantage of the situation to make progress, unswervingly adhering to the policy of "one country, two systems," unswervingly implementing the HKSAR Basic Law, and consolidating and developing the favourable situation of logical administration, harmonious people, prosperity and stability in Hong Kong are the common wish of the Central Government and the people of the motherland and are also the common interest of the broad masses of the Hong Kong compatriots. At present, seeking development, seeking stability and seeking harmony have more and more become the common understanding of the Hong Kong society. If the people of all social sectors of the Hong Kong society are united under the banner of loving the country and loving Hong Kong, seek common ground while reserving differences, work together with one heart, bring into play the wisdom of various social strata, and pool the strength of the whole society, they definitely will be able to create a better tomorrow!

(c) 2007 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.