Legal experts: Talks, not violence, solution to HK impasse

When we interpret the concept of the "one country, two systems", we can't separate "one country" and "two systems". In particular, we can't obfuscate the connotation of "one country", which is the bottom line of the "one country, two systems", and stress "two systems" excessively. We should emphasize that "one country" and "two systems" are a unified whole, and "one country" is the premise and basis of "two systems". Without "one country", there would be no "two systems".

After Hong Kong returned to China, due to insufficient legal safeguard, the "one country" principle, which is not a matter up for debate, is gradually being abstracted, obfuscated and hollowed.

When measuring the governance and development level of the special administrative region, we should make clear that the implementation of "one country" principle is a core indicator that has constitutional meaning.

Whether they are residents of mainland or of the special administrative region, they are Chinese citizens first under the Constitution. Any tolerance of "two systems" differences can't change this legal fact.

On the concept level, we should be guided by the basic spirit of the "one country, two systems", accurately grasp the relationship of "one country" and "two systems", stress the core status of "one country" principle as the bottom line, realize the comeback of the correct understanding of the "one country, two systems".

On the institutional level, we should push forward the "one country" principle as the bottom line to be implemented in the governing system of the special administrative region by legislation and other ways and implement special administrative region residents' recognition of their identity according to the Constitution.

On the practice level, we should start from the special administrative region's institutional obligation of safeguarding the "one country" principle as the bottom line, and strengthen the safeguard mechanism of the "one country, two systems" inside the special administrative region by ways such as igniting the legal system of the special administrative region.