People cross a street adorned with the national flags and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region flags in Tsim Sha Tsui East, Hong Kong, on June 29, 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

BEIJING - Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Thursday stressed ensuring that the central government exercises overall jurisdiction over Hong Kong and Macao.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in his speech at a ceremony marking the centenary of the CPC.

"We will stay true to the letter and spirit of the principle of One Country, Two Systems, under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong, and the people of Macao administer Macao, both with a high degree of autonomy," Xi said.

Xi highlighted implementing the legal systems and enforcement mechanisms for the two special administrative regions to safeguard national security.

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"While protecting China's sovereignty, security, and development interests, we will ensure social stability in Hong Kong and Macao, and maintain lasting prosperity and stability in the two special administrative regions," he said.