See the bigger picture

Zhang Xiaoming, new director of the Liaison Office, said in a speech to a youth forum on Thursday that he hopes Hong Kong youth will have the vision to always keep Hong Kong the motherland and the whole world in view. He quoted some ancient Chinese wisdom and encouraged local youths to recognize the general trend, understand the ultimate truth and see the bigger picture - qualities that define a person of vision. These heart-felt words from Zhang should inspire all Hong Kong citizens.

Hong Kong's prosperity and stability depend on its residents' grasp of the development trend around the world, the country and the times, their understanding of the nation's general interest - which is the nation's unity and security - and their faith in the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, because it is the only way to add even more glorious chapters to the Hong Kong story.

The world is in an era of significant changes, characterized by political multi-polarization, economic globalization and social informationization. The world economic situation is experiencing profound evolution with challenges and opportunities existing side by side. For Hong Kong to keep its success story going by staying onboard the national development express, the fundamental guarantee is the unique constitutional arrangement under the "One Country, Two Systems" principle. It is also Hong Kong's ultimate competitive edge.

More than 15 years of practice has proved that Hong Kong has maintained its prosperity and stability despite grave challenges such as the Asian financial storm, the SARS outbreak and the global financial crisis, exactly because it remains committed to following the Basic Law as well as the "One Country Two Systems" principle. The fact that Hong Kong has kept the billing of "freest economy in the world" for 19 years in a row also confirms the universal recognition that, 15 years along, the Hong Kong SAR is as vibrant as ever, thanks to its unique characteristics.

The "One Country, Two Systems" principle is a cornerstone of Hong Kong's prosperity and stability; while truly understanding and implementing this principle, strictly following the Basic Law and protecting the fundamental overall interest of Hong Kong as well as the country are the ultimate truth and bigger picture.

This is an excerpted translation of a Hong Kong Commercial Daily editorial published on Jan 11.

Kwan Chiu

What's Kwok talking about?

Civic Party lawmaker Dennis Kwok on Thursday tabled a motion in a Legislative Council (LegCo) session against a request by Secretary for Justice Yuen Kwok-keung, that the Court of Final Appeal (CFA) ask the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) for interpretation of the Basic Law, before the court rules on a case about the right of abode for foreign domestic helpers.

His argument is that the NPCSC interpretation of the Basic Law will "jeopardize" Hong Kong's judicial independence and rule of law. Kwok also accused the SAR government of "playing dirty" by tossing a political hot potato in the CFA's hands. As a "big shot" barrister, Kwok should know the law very well, which is why I find it shocking this "legal expert" made such law-defying, unreasonable and ignorant claims.

The fact is Article 158 of the Basic Law authorizes the CFA to ask the NPCSC for interpretation of the Basic Law when adjudicating cases that will affect the relationship between the Hong Kong SAR and the central government. This provision is an integral element of Hong Kong's rule of law and judicial system. If the CFA believes it is necessary to ask the NPCSC to interpret the Basic Law, how can such a move "jeopardize" the SAR's judicial independence and rule of law?

The NPCSC has been asked to interpret the Basic Law four times since the handover and Hong Kong benefited from these exercises of constitutional authority significantly each time. Now that it is clear the NPCSC's interpretations of the Basic Law never "hurt" Hong Kong's judicial independence or rule of law, why should people believe it will next time? Unless Kwok was referring to the kind of "judicial independence and rule of law" that only serve the interest of politicians like him.

It is no secret Kwok's party was behind a series of controversial judicial review cases that inflicted tremendous losses on Hong Kong and for which the party paid dearly for such outrageous maneuvers in recent elections. Since interpretations of the Basic Law by the NPCSC will seriously limit the ability of the "big shot" barrister's party to mess up Hong Kong by means of court cases, of course it would do anything it can to block them. Talk about "playing dirty".

The author is a veteran current affairs commentator. This is an excerpted translation of her column published in Ta Kung Pao on Jan 11.

(HK Edition 01/12/2013 page3)