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Published: 15:47, May 27, 2022 | Updated: 10:13, May 30, 2022
New phase of 'one country, two systems' spells opportunities
By Oasis Hu
Published:15:47, May 27, 2022 Updated:10:13, May 30, 2022 By Oasis Hu

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor speaks at the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 25th Anniversary Legal Conference on Basic Law: "Stability to Prosperity" on May 27, 2022. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR)

Hong Kong is better poised to boost its economy, enhance competitiveness and address urgent livelihood issues as the “one country, two systems” policy has entered a new phase, officials said on Friday at a high-level legal forum.

The forum, centering on the importance of the Basic Law and “one country, two systems” for Hong Kong, is one in a series of legal forums being held by the city’s Department of Justice to mark the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland.

Since its establishment, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has experienced turbulent times, yet with the full support of the central government and the unique advantage of “one country, two systems”, it has maintained long-term prosperity and stability, and achieved remarkable results, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said at the event.

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The HKSAR has maintained long-term prosperity and stability since its establishment thanks to central government support and advantage of “one country, two systems”, said Carrie Lam

Lam told the forum attendees that “one country” is always the foundation of “two systems”, and also the foremost requisition for Hong Kong to fully leverage the strength of “two systems”.

Lam said that in the last five years, Hong Kong experienced the gravest challenges since the handover, when national security faced severe threats. She added that the lessons learned during the social unrest in 2019 showed that deviating from the original intention of “one country, two systems” would bring disastrous consequences to Hong Kong.

She expects government officials and different social sectors to seize the favorable conditions, closely integrating into national development and improving Hong Kong people’s quality of life.

Wang Linggui, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said at the same event that a series of achievements in Hong Kong have proved that “one country, two systems” is the best solution and institutional arrangement for dealing with the issues of Hong Kong and Macao, and is workable, feasible, and widely supported.

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(From left) Chief Judge of the High Court Justice Jeremy Poon Shiu-chor; President of the Legislative Council Andrew Leung; Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng; Member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Tam Yiu-chung; Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR Liu Guangyuan; Chief Executive Carrie Lam; Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal Andrew Cheung Kui-nung; Deputy Political Commissar of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison, Major General Wang Zhaobing; Financial Secretary Paul Chan; Vice-Chairperson of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee under the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Maria Tam; and Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal Justice Johnson Lam attends the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 25th Anniversary Legal Conference on Basic Law on May 27, 2022. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR)

Wang stressed that with the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the improvements in the electoral system, “one country, two systems” has kicked off a new stage in Hong Kong. 

Also speaking at the full-day forum was Chen Dong, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR. Chen said that to fully and accurately implement the Basic Law, Hong Kong must firmly adhere to the “one country” principle and give full play to the advantages of the “two systems”.

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The forum also has panel discussions featuring social dignitaries from various sectors, including legal, business, academia, and politics.

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