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Wednesday, December 04, 2019, 18:01
HK told not to lose confidence in 'one country, two systems'
By He Shusi, Gu Mengyan and Chen Zimo
Wednesday, December 04, 2019, 18:01 By He Shusi, Gu Mengyan and Chen Zimo

(From left) Han Dayuan, president of the Chinese Constitutional Law Society; Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress; Wong Yuk-shan, member of the Committee of the Hong Kong Basic Law; share their views at the third National Constitution Day forum in Hong Kong, Dec 4, 2019. (CALVIN NG/CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - A legal expert of the country’s top legislature told Hong Kong not to lose confidence in the “one country, two systems” principle although it is facing its biggest challenges in the past 22 years since the return of sovereignty in 1997.

Han Dayuan, a member of the HK Basic Law Committee of the NPC Standing Committee, called on the city’s civil servants and young people to enhance their understandings of the national Constitution and the Basic Law

Problems will be solved as long as every sector in the city faces up to the challenges, respects the Constitution, and conducts constructive dialogues in legal and peaceful ways, said Han Dayuan, a member of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.

He made the remarks while giving a keynote speech at the city’s third National Constitution Day forum at the Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday. His remarks came at a time when the city has endured over five months of violent protests against the SAR government and while challenging the “one country, two systems” principle.

READ MORE: 'One country, two systems' has been a success for Hong Kong

Han, who is also dean of School of Law at Beijing-based Renmin University of China, also called on the city’s civil servants and young people to enhance their understandings of the national Constitution and the Basic Law.

As of Nov 29, about 40 percent of the 5,890 protesters arrested since June are students. The youngest one among the 910 teenagers arrested is only 11-years-old. 

Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, delivers a speech at the city's third National Constitution Day forum in Hong Kong, Dec 4, 2019. (CALVIN NG/CHINA DAILY)

In addition, some 40 civil servants were believed to have involved in unlawful assemblies, violent activities or openly discredit the “one country, two systems” principle, according to complaints filed to the Civil Service Bureau. 

Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, stressed that the national Constitution has the supreme legal authority across the country, including the SAR

Giving an opening speech at the same occasion, Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, stressed that the national Constitution has the supreme legal authority across the country, including the SAR. 

Wang noted that in the past six months, a small group of radicals in Hong Kong has seriously undermined the “one country, two systems” principle in violent protests that challenged the city’s constitutional order. 

ALSO READ: Official: Constitution embodiment of 'one country, two systems'

To safeguard the dignity and authority of the national Constitution and the SAR’s constitutional order is fundamental to ensuring long-term prosperity and stability, Wang pointed out. “Otherwise the whole society will have to pay a heavy price.” 

Also speaking at the forum, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the Constitution is the basis of “one country, two systems”, a principle all Hong Kong people should respect and safeguard. 

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor delivers a speech at the city's third National Constitution Day forum in Hong Kong, Dec 4, 2019. (CALVIN NG/CHINA DAILY)

Lam said the SAR government would continue to strengthen young people’s awareness of their national identity through various educational activities in the hope that future generations can further engage the city in national development. 

"We must enhance the education about the Constitution and the Basic Law, so as to strengthen the national identity in the whole society, especially among public servants and young people," Lam said.

She pointed out that the HKSAR should improve its system and mechanism for implementing the Constitution and the Basic Law in accordance with the requirement of "one country, two systems".

"At the same time, we should pay close attention to the overall development of our country, safeguard the country's political system, and actively participate in the construction of the country's economic, political, cultural, social and ecological civilizations, so that Hong Kong can play its unique role in the country's development and seize new opportunities to expand new space and inject new impetus into its future development," she added.

Hong Kong is faced with unprecedented challenges, the city leader said, adding that stopping violence in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law would remain at the top of the agenda of her government. 

Over 100 secondary students, principal officials of the SAR government, Hong Kong deputies to the National People’s Congress and cross-sector representatives attended the forum.

With Xinhua inputs

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