SCIO briefing on 'Hong Kong: Democratic Progress Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems' white paper
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E-mail China.org.cn, December 30, 2021
Bloomberg News:
Can we ask, is there a timeline for the universal suffrage for the chief executive? Thank you.
Wang Zhenmin:
Allow me to first discuss some points of view. The white paper reiterated the principle and position on the issue of democratic development in Hong Kong. The goals of dual universal suffrage laid down in the Basic Law of the HKSAR have not changed. Future amendments to the two methods for the elections of the chief executive and the LegCo will still be in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law of HKSAR, especially the newly revised Basic Law Annex I and Annex II, and will proceed from the realities of Hong Kong. Over the years, the central government has spent a lot of time, energy and resources on the democratic development of Hong Kong. Hong Kong's society has also made tremendous efforts in this regard, which has even caused serious political turmoil. The economy and people's livelihoods were interfered with because of politics. Now that we have a good democratic election system, it can be said that it has not come easily. We have all paid high prices in exchange for today's new democratic system. I think it should be cherished and consolidated. After such a long period of social turbulence and turmoil in Hong Kong, my own feeling is that people are longing for stability, it is necessary to allow the society to recuperate, and spend more energy and resources on developing the economy, improving people's livelihoods, and creating better lives, so as to lay a solid economic and social foundation for the healthy development of Hong Kong's democracy. I think this is what the residents of Hong Kong expect.
The white paper also reiterated in the first section of Part VI the central government's basic policies for Hong Kong. This section clearly states that we must continue to abide by a set of key principles: One Country, Two Systems, Hong Kong governed by the people of Hong Kong, and a high degree of autonomy for the region; and make sure that the policy of One Country, Two Systems will remain unchanged and that it is implemented faithfully. This is the fundamental guarantee for the development of democracy in the HKSAR. More specifically, in recent years, we've often heard about the notion of promoting HK's integration into national development, however, it is important to note that the white paper clearly points out the Chinese government supports Hong Kong in extensive exchanges and cooperation with other countries and areas, and attaches great importance to protecting the legitimate interests of foreign investors in Hong Kong. Hong Kong belongs to China, yet it is also an international economic, trade and financial platform, a platform benefiting not only China but also other countries in the world. Therefore, China is willing to share this platform with other countries and share the dividends brought by China's development. For many years, many international assessment agencies have believed that Hong Kong was, is, and will be the world's freest, friendliest, most open, and most dynamic free port and international financial center. This will only be strengthened and will not be changed. Thanks.
