Xinhua News Agency is releasing a signed article by Tang Hua,
deputy editor-in-chief of its own magazine Outlook Weekly, titled
"Constitutional developments in Hong Kong should be safeguarded to
follow the direction laid down by the Basic Law." The contents of
the commentary are as follows:
The Standing Committee of the 10th National
People's Congress (NPC) is reviewing draft interpretations on
provisions in the Basic Law annexes. The NPC Standing Committee,
with a high sense of responsibility, is exercising its solemn duty
entrusted by the Constitution and the Basic Law in response to the
objective requirements of comprehensive implementation of the Basic
Law. Its purpose is to safeguard the supreme authority of the Basic
Law in the course of the country's creative practices of enacting
the principle of "one country, two systems," and to make sure that
Hong Kong's constitutional developments follow the direction as
defined in the Basic Law.
The NPC has decided on the political structure of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR) in the Basic Law based on the principle of "one
country, two systems" and the central government's policies towards
Hong Kong. This constitutional structure is in line with the legal
status of the HKSAR, reflects the actual conditions of Hong Kong
society, represents interests of all social strata there, conduces
to the development of the capitalist economy and lays out the
political foundations of long-term stability and prosperity for the
region.
The executive power plays a dominant role in Hong Kong's
political structure with its Chief Executive placed at an extremely
vital position; The Legislative Council (LegCo) as its legislature
also play a very important role in the political setup. Therefore,
how to choose the Chief Executive and LegCo members, whether
methods on the election of the Chief Executive and formation of the
LegCo need to be revised and how to revise, are all major issues of
Hong Kong's constitutional developments and affects the stability
of the political foundations of Hong Kong society. These issues
must be solved in strict compliance with the principles as defined
by the Basic Law of proceeding from the actual conditions of Hong
Kong in a step-by-step manner and ensuring balanced representation
of people from all walks of life. Those principles must be observed
with no deviations.
At present, different understandings of the Basic Law's certain
provisions exist in Hong Kong concerning its constitutional
developments, and fierce rows have also ensued. If such
misunderstandings were not clarified by law, the right not told
from the wrong, interference not removed, the principle of "one
country, two systems" would not be implemented in an all-round way,
and the democratic system development concerned by the Hong Kong
public will not be carried out in the direction set forth by the
Basic Law. Thus the conscientious and earnest interpretations that
the NPC Standing Committee is making, based on the purview
entrusted by the Constitution, the Basic Law and due legal
procedures, are entirely essential and timely.
The move to interpret the Basic Law annex provisions this time
epitomizes that the central government is taking the highest
responsibility for Hong Kong's political stability, economic
prosperity and social harmony, demonstrates the central
government's resolve of unswerving adherence to the Basic Law, as
well as its authority over its understanding and enforcement of the
Basic Law. The interpretation move has won endorsement from the
overall public of Hong Kong.
This move also indicates that any issue or dispute pertaining to
Hong Kong constitutional development must be resolved within the
framework as defined by the Basic Law, and the NPC Standing
Committee is responsible to correct, in accordance with the Basic
Law itself, any stance or action that is inconsistent with the
Basic Law.
It is believed that the majority of sober-minded Hong Kong
residents can realize both the starting point and final goal of
interpretations the NPC Standing Committee is to make are precisely
for the better implementation of the "one country, two systems"
policy and the Basic Law itself and for the long-term prosperity
and stability of the region.
(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2004)