Source: China News Network
On the 25th anniversary of the return to the motherland, how can Hong Kong "be governed and rejuvenated"?
Beijing, 1 July (China News Service) -- Title: On the 25th anniversary of the return to the motherland, how can Hong Kong "be governed and rejuvenated"?
Sun Xiaobo, a reporter for China News Weekly
On the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland, Hong Kong has entered a critical period of "governance and rejuvenation". Recently, China News Agency's "East and West Question" interviewed a number of Hong Kong and Macao research experts on this issue, and analyzed the background and reasons for Hong Kong's "governance and prosperity" in multiple dimensions.
On the morning of July 1, the flag-raising ceremony of the Hong Kong SAR government to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland was held at Golden Bauhinia Square, and helicopter formations flying the five-star red flag and the Hong Kong regional flag flew over Victoria Harbour. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Wei
The National Security Law and the new electoral system have helped hong Kong take on a new look
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the second anniversary of the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, and the beginning of the completion of the election of the new chief executive based on the fundamental principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong." Wang Linggui, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said a few days ago that with the implementation of the National Security Law and the improvement of the election system, Hong Kong has taken on a new look, and the next five years will be a critical period for Hong Kong to move from "from chaos to governance" to "from governance to prosperity."
Wang Zhenmin, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Research Center of Tsinghua University, said that insisting on handling Hong Kong's national security issues within the framework of the Basic Law fully demonstrates the central government's firm commitment to "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law. The Hong Kong National Security Law is a minimum and minimum standard "life-saving law" that will help "one country, two systems" restore normalcy and achieve stability and long-term development.
Tian Feilong, associate professor of the Law School of Beihang University and director of the National Association for the Study of Hong Kong and Macao, pointed out that the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law has repaired the national security loopholes that have plagued Hong Kong for many years, freed Hong Kong from the "undefended" state of national security, and promoted the situation in Hong Kong from chaos to governance, and Hong Kong's development back on the right track. He said that the original intention of the Hong Kong National Security Law legislation was to safeguard Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and make up for loopholes in national security laws, which realized Hong Kong's transition from chaos to governance, and also provided strong support and protection for Hong Kong's rule and prosperity. The Hong Kong National Security Law and the new election system have comprehensively and accurately implemented the "patriots governing Hong Kong," made up for the loopholes in the "one country, two systems" system, and developed "one country, two systems" into an organic and unified system as a whole.
On June 29, a fishing boat in Hong Kong hung a sign celebrating the return of Hong Kong to Victoria Harbour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. Photo by Li Zhihua, a reporter of China News Service
"Patriots Govern Hong Kong" Enlightens Hong Kong to Good Governance and Good Governance
In the view of many Hong Kong scholars, in the two years since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law and the implementation of the new election system for more than a year, Hong Kong has opened up a new situation of good governance and good governance.
Liu Zhaojia, vice president of the National Association for the Study of Hong Kong and Macao, pointed out that in today's Hong Kong, the patriotic forces of love for the motherland and Hong Kong are unprecedentedly united, and all aspects of society are focusing on Hong Kong's future development direction and deep-seated problems.
Yan Xiaojun, an associate professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at the University of Hong Kong, said that the new election system after the improvement has returned the discussion of politics in Hong Kong society to the degree of governance and the effectiveness of governance.
It is worth noting that Wang Linggui pointed out that the central government's implementation of the National Security Law and the improvement of the election system in Hong Kong have laid the foundation for the healthy development of democracy in Hong Kong under the protection of sovereignty, security and development interests, and have a far-reaching impact on prosperity and stability. He believes that Hong Kong now has the conditions to promote the construction of various social and people's livelihoods.
Zheng Yongnian, dean of the Institute for Advanced Study in Global and Contemporary China at the University of Chinese of Hong Kong , Shenzhen ) , believes that Hong Kong did not have political conditions to solve people's livelihood problems before, but now they have, the implementation of Hong Kong's national security law and the implementation of the new election system, the political conditions for "patriots governing Hong Kong" have matured.
In his view, after the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong" was fully implemented, remarkable changes have taken place in Hong Kong. First of all, under the "one country, two systems" national security, there was basically no grasp before, and now the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law has a grip; Secondly, in the cultivation of national identity, the entire educational and cultural system can now be substantially promoted; More importantly, the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law is a transformation of the two political systems, and Hong Kong has moved from a radical democracy in the past to a democracy that is more in line with Hong Kong's cultural, class structure, and social structure. Today's Hong Kong is "starting again".
Infographic: A red sun rises from the east, reflecting the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in a particularly charming way. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Wei
The Greater Bay Area and the 14th Five-Year Plan promote Hong Kong to shine again
The stability of Hong Kong society has also brought about a burst of vitality. In the latest World Competitiveness Annual Report 2022 released by the International Institute of Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, Hong Kong's ranking has risen from seventh place in the world to fifth place last year. Among the four competitiveness factors in the annual report, Hong Kong continued to rank well in "Government Efficiency" and "Business Efficiency", as well as in "Economic Performance" and "Infrastructure".
According to the HONG KONG SAR government, Hong Kong's competitiveness depends on the institutional advantages of "one country, two systems", including the rule of law and judicial independence, free access to funds, a free trade and investment system, a simple and low tax system, a good business environment, and an efficient government.
Song Luzheng, a researcher at the China Research Institute of Fudan University, believes that Hong Kong has completely restored stability, the return of business genes, and the help of the central government, Hong Kong will inevitably accelerate its development and become more prosperous.
When it comes to Hong Kong's future development, many scholars have mentioned two important documents – the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the 14th Five-Year Plan and the Outline of Long-term Goals for 2035.
Tian Feilong said that the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, released in early 2019, actually provides a specific strategic guide on how Hong Kong can integrate into the overall situation of national development. The positioning of Hong Kong's eight major centers proposed in the 14th Five-Year Plan not only contains the inherent advantages of Hong Kong's original international status, but also superimposes the development advantages under the conditions of the new national strategy, providing a very good policy foundation and policy guidance for Hong Kong's transformation and development and seizing the development opportunities of a new round of globalization.
Hong Kong under the "one country, two systems" principle has its own irreplaceable advantages and unique value as a special administrative region. Some people point out that as a free port, an independent customs territory and an economy, Hong Kong's degree of internationalization and openness can provide unique support for China's economic development, RMB internationalization, foreign exchanges, rule of law and urban governance.
It can be said that under the "one country, two systems", Hong Kong has both the convenience of "one country" and the benefits of "two systems". The construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the promotion of the 14th Five-Year Plan are great opportunities for Hong Kong. As some scholars have pointed out, if Hong Kong can be deeply integrated into the national development strategy with its unique advantages, it is only a matter of time before the "Pearl of the Orient" with a population of 7 million people shines again. (End)