White paper affirms central jurisdiction over Hong Kong

Top officials and political figures in Hong Kong have welcomed the central government's white paper that reviewed the "one country, two systems" principle since its adoption in 1997.

The White Paper on the Practice of the "One Country, Two Systems" Policy in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was issued by the Information Office of the State Council on Tuesday. It was translated into seven languages.

The paper highlights the importance of fully and accurately understanding and implementing the policy of "one country, two systems", as this policy has faced "new circumstances and new problems".

Some people in Hong Kong, the paper said, have been confused about the Basic Law, resulting in many misguided views concerning the city's economy and society and the development of its political structure.

The white paper reaffirmed that the central leadership exercises direct jurisdiction over the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region through four organs of power in accordance with the Basic Law. The National People's Congress formulated the Basic Law of Hong Kong to prescribe the system and has the power to amend the Basic Law.

The Standing Committee of the NPC is not only vested with the power to interpret the Basic Law, but it also supervises laws formulated by the Legislative Council in the HKSAR and decides if Hong Kong should enter a state of emergency.

Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy is thus not full autonomy, but a power authorized by the central leadership to run local affairs.

While most of the country practices socialism and Hong Kong practices capitalism, the paper maintained that the "two systems" are subordinate to, and derived from, the "one country." As such, the "two systems" under the "one country" are not on a par with each other.

It is also necessary to be wary of outside forces that are attempting to use Hong Kong to interfere in China's domestic affairs, the paper said. Attempts by a very small number of people, acting in collusion with outside forces, to undermine the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong should be prevented and repelled, the paper said.

"One country, two systems" has proved the best solution to an issue left over from history and the best institutional arrangement for the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, the paper said.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying told reporters on Tuesday that preparation and drafting of the white paper took about a year, and therefore it was not released to coincide with any recent events.

He said the paper will help the local and international communities to comprehensively evaluate the practice of "one country, two systems" in the past 17 years and gain a deeper knowledge of the essence of the policy and the Basic Law.

He said the central leadership has been consistent in the interpretation and execution of the Basic Law since its promulgation in 1990 and enactment in 1997. Power vested in the central leadership has always been stipulated clearly in the Basic Law, he added.

A spokesman for the Hong Kong government, in an earlier statement, welcomed the white paper and encouraged the public to read it in detail for a deeper and comprehensive understanding of the practice of "one country, two systems".

Rao Geping, a Peking University professor and a member of the NPC Standing Committee Basic Law Committee of the HKSAR, maintained that it is necessary for the central government to reaffirm its determination to execute the "one country, two systems" policy.

Lau Siu-kai, a Chinese University professor and vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies, said the paper was "extraordinary". It outlines clearly the jurisdiction of the central leadership and highlights that the support of Beijing is key to Hong Kong's development, he said.

kahon@chinadailyhk.com