Elsie Leung Oi-Sie speaks at a forum of young lawyers in Hebei, Anhui Province in this October 23, 2004 file photo. [newsphoto]

HONG KONG -- Safeguarded by the Basic Law, residents in Hong Kong enjoyed more freedom and rights after it returned to the motherland, said Elsie Leung Oi-Sie, vice chairwoman of the Commission for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China.

Leung, former secretary for justice of the HKSAR, said during an interview with Xinhua recently that the principle of "one country, two systems" has been successfully implemented in Hong Kong during the past 10 years.

She said when China resumed the exercising of sovereignty over Hong Kong 10 years ago, many people understood little about the principle of "one country, two systems" and many predicted that Hong Kong residents would lose their freedom.

But the facts of the past 10 years have proved that these predictions are wrong, said Leung, noting that Hong Kong is still one of the freest city in Asia.

"In 1997, Hong Kong had a population of 6 million. At that time, many people emigrated out of Hong Kong owing to they fear and doubt of Hong Kong's future. But currently, Hong Kong has a population of 7 million, which is a proof of the residents' confidence in Hong Kong," said Leung.

Leung admitted that more than 150 years' of colonial rule had caused some blur of identity on some people and that some of them had not a clear sense of identity. It takes time to change, Leung added.

She noted that the rapid economic growth, technological advancement, improvement of China's international status, and increasing linkage and exchange between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland have helped Hong Kong residents improve their sense of identity with the motherland.