Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday
pledged firm support for the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR) government led by Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa.
Meeting with Tung on separate occasions in Beijing, Hu and Wen
emphasized that the central government will, as always, adhere to
the fundamental policies of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong
people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy, and
implement the Basic Law of the HKSAR.
They pledged that the central government will make concerted
efforts to support the HKSAR government led by Tung to rule the
region according to law, be firm in safeguarding social stability
in Hong Kong, and try its best to help Hong Kong's economic
recovery so as to realize long-term prosperity and development.
Hu, who is also General Secretary of the Central Committee of
the Communist Party of China, said at the meeting that the central
government is very concerned with the recent situation in the
HKSAR.
Since Hong Kong returned to China six years ago, the central
government has fully implemented the fundamental policies of "one
country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a
high degree of autonomy, and has acted strictly in accordance with
the Basic Law, Hu said.
The central government has not interfered with affairs within
the scope of the HKSAR's autonomy, has fully supported the HKSAR to
overcome diverse risks and difficulties.
"All of this, carried out by the central government, is
conducive to maintaining prosperity and stability in Hong Kong,"
the president said.
Maintaining prosperity and stability in Hong Kong is not only
the common aspiration of the central government and the people of
the motherland, but also concerned the well-being of the broad
masses of Hong Kong people.
"Only by maintaining social stability can Hong Kong preserve a
sound business environment, keep its features as a free port and
its status as an international financial, trade and shipping
center, thus creating favorable conditions for economic recovery
and further development," Hu said.
He called on the HKSAR government and people from all walks of
life to make concerted efforts toward the major issues concerning
the well-being of the compatriots in Hong Kong.
According to Hu, it is a necessary part of implementing the
Basic Law that the HKSAR independently drafts the law to safeguard
national security and reunification, and drafting such a law is
also the responsibility of the HKSAR has to fulfill as a special
administrative region of the People's Republic of China.
Hu said he is aware the HKSAR government had decided to consult
the public again over the relevant law draft.
"I am confident the legislation will gain understanding, support
and recognition of the broad masses of people in Hong Kong after
careful and extensive consultation," said the president.
Hu said that as chief executive of the HKSAR, Tung was elected
by an election committee consisting on personages representing all
walks of life Hong Kong and appointed by the Central
Government.
He praised Tung for his hard work for Hong Kong and the country
with a great sense of mission and responsibility.
Over the past six years, Tung has led the HKSAR government and
united the broad masses of compatriots who love the country and
Hong Kong in meeting calmly the challenges brought by the Asian
financial crisis, changed external economic conditions and the
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic.
"Tung has made the great contributions to successfully
implementing the 'one country, two systems' policy and in
maintaining prosperity and stability in Hong Kong. The Central
Government firmly supports the HKSAR government to govern the
region according to law," said President Hu.
"The political system in the HKSAR must, in accordance with the
stipulation laid out in the Basic Law and the actual situation in
Hong Kong, develop step by step," he said.
Hu said he agreed to Tung's recent proposal to improve
government administration, and focus on the economy and the
livelihood of the people.
He expressed confidence that under the leadership of Tung, the
HKSAR government will be able to do a good job in unifying
consensus, focusing attention on social changes and the opinions of
local people, and improving government administration.
The president stressed that the HKSAR is a local administrative
region of the People's Republic of China, where the policies of
"one country, two systems," "Hong Kong People governing Hong Kong"
and a high degree of autonomy are implemented.
"Hong Kong belongs to China and the people of Hong Kong. We are
strongly opposed to the attempt of any foreign forces and other
forces from outside to interfere in the internal affairs of Hong
Kong," the Chinese president said, adding that maintaining
prosperity and stability in Hong Kong conforms with the benefits of
investors from different countries and of the international
community at large.
Hu said implementing the "one country, two systems" policy in
Hong Kong is a brand-new cause. The central government and HKSAR
government will continue exploration and summarize experience so as
to promote the smooth development of this great cause in Hong
Kong.
The determination and sincerity of the Central Government to
carry out the basic policies of "one country, two systems," "Hong
Kong People governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy have
been proved by all the practice since Hong Kong returned to China,
and have been generally recognized by the international community,
he said.
The president expressed full confidence in the HKSAR government
headed by Tung and the people of Hong Kong, saying, "as long as the
HKSAR government and the people of Hong Kong unite as one and make
concerted efforts, the current economic difficulties will be
overcome and a bright future will be ushered in."
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, at his meeting with Tung, also
emphasized the necessity of safeguarding social stability, striving
hard to develop the economy and improving the livelihood of Hong
Kong people.
"This is the fundamental way to resolve all the problems facing
Hong Kong at present," said the premier, who described the
achievements of the HKSAR government has made in various fields
as"hard-won" over the past six years.
There are many reasons for the current difficulties in Hong
Kong's economy, he said. To overcome these difficulties, it is
imperative to maintain a stable social environment, and it is
necessary that the compatriots in Hong Kong and the HKSAR
government work hard together and make unremitting efforts.
The premier said that the central government always places great
importance on economic issues in Hong Kong and has rendered support
accordingly, while dealing with Hong Kong affairs according to the
"one country, two systems" policy and the Basic Law.
Currently, all central government departments concerned and
relevant localities in the mainland are working hard to implement
the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between the
mainland and Hong Kong signed last month, Wen told Tung.
The premier promised to further open the mainland market to Hong
Kong in areas including value-added telecom services, tourism and
financial services, based on the CEPA.
"The central government will give full support to all things
that will benefit the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and be
conducive to the common development in Hong Kong and the mainland,"
said Wen.
"The great socialist motherland will always be a strong force
backing the development and progress in Hong Kong."
(Xinhua News Agency July 20, 2003)