Strive for consistent excellence in handling work in HKSAR
Wang Zhimin notes Xi’s point that the Party must constantly move forward and improve itself to avoid being trapped in cycle of history
General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered a very important speech at the opening ceremony of a workshop for new members and new alternate members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China focused on learning and carrying out Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the consensus reached at the 19th National Congress of the CPC in October. In the speech, Xi made it clear the CPC must consistently exercise and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, advance the great Party-building project and heighten our crisis-awareness to prevent risks and cope with challenges.
His instruction is a great call of duty for all of us to forge ahead, and of guiding significance to better understanding and carrying out the CPC Central Committee’s strategies. With this in mind we are confident that we will do well in consolidating, maintaining and developing the positive progress currently happening in Hong Kong by joining efforts with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the whole local society. Here is what I have learned from his speech.
Firstly, thoroughly understand and grasp the important theory and new requirement of “consistently exercise and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics” in order to sustain implementation of “one country, two systems” steadfastly on the right track.
Exercising and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics has been the theme of every theory and practice of the CPC since the reform and opening-up drive started 40 years ago. It is also the core essence of the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Looking back at the arduous journey our country, nation and Party have taken so far, we must cherish wholeheartedly the magnificent path of socialism with Chinese characteristics that the tremendous journey has established. Compared with others’ paths, China’s social formation, political party system and value-set are all different from the typical Western model, but we were able to achieve so much in such a short time and at a lower cost than the West did. That is why we have more confidence than ever in the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, in related theories, in the system and in the culture of our nation.
The great cause of “one country, two systems” is an important integral part of socialism with Chinese characteristics. By urging the whole country to develop socialist mainland and capitalist Hong Kong well during his inspection tour of Hong Kong last year, General Secretary Xi issued a new mission for the exercise of “one country, two systems” in the new era. In light of the new requirements for the successful exercise of “one country, two systems” in the new era laid down in Xi’s report at the 19th National Congress of the CPC, we will strictly abide by the nation’s Constitution and the Basic Law of the HKSAR, support the HKSAR Government and its chief executive in lawful and proactive administration of Hong Kong; support Hong Kong in integrating its own development into the country’s overall development strategy, maintain “Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong” with patriots as the mainstay, encourage Hong Kong compatriots to share the responsibility of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with mainland compatriots and enjoy the glorious reward of the motherland’s growing prosperity and strength, so Hong Kong compatriots and the young people in particular will gain greater sense of involvement, achievement and happiness through “holding firmly to the foundation of ‘one country’ while properly using the advantage of ‘two systems’”.
Secondly, thoroughly understand and grasp the important theory and new requirement of “consistently exercise and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics” and continuously improve the quality of the staff at the Central People’s Government’s Liaison Office in the HKSAR.
The great Party-building project in the new era plays a decisive role in the overall undertaking of the CPC. As a giant party of more than 89 million members in over 4.5 million grassroots branches, the CPC can break free of the trap known as the “periodic law of history” and keep its estate forever robust only by consistently advancing the great Party-building project, daring to do surgery on its own organization to remove any rotten part if necessary, so as to maintain a stellar constitution always competent to lead and serve as the spine of the nation, a Marxist ruling party that will always live up to people’s expectations in terms of discipline and self-governing.
Working in Hong Kong under “one country, two systems”, all officials at the Liaison Office must ensure their own competence, with strong political faith, strong political integrity, strong capabilities and strong character, so as to maintain a “friendly” and “clean” relationship between the government and the business community, and build up a people-friendly, pragmatic and clean image for the Liaison Office staff.
Thirdly, thoroughly understand and grasp the important theory and new requirement of “consistently heighten our crisis-awareness to prevent risks and challenges”, so as to build up our own crisisawareness and the ability to handle challenges properly.
General Secretary Xi attaches great importance to crisis-awareness and prevention. That is why he has repeatedly urged all CPC members to maintain strong crisisawareness and a sense of principle; why he lists the prevention of serious risks as the most critical means to achieve the goal of turning the country into a society of overall moderate prosperity in his report at the 19th National Congress of the CPC; and why he names risk-handling capability as one of eight basic skills the CPC must possess as the ruling party.
As an unprecedented and groundbreaking undertaking, “one country, two systems” will no doubt face various obstacles and risks. As General Secretary Xi pointed out during his visit in Hong Kong last year: “Hong Kong still needs to complete the system of protecting the sovereignty, security and development interests of the country.”
We must keep in mind the central government’s right to have overall jurisdiction over Hong Kong and the country’s need for overall security while supporting the CE of the HKSAR and its government to fulfill its constitutional duty of protecting the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests.