CPC successfully deals with emerging issues in Hong Kong, Macao

CThe principle of “one country, two systems” and the rule of law must be insisted upon in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions to assure the progress that has been made during the past five years, experts said Tuesday.

“The past five years witnessed unprecedented challenges in work related to Hong Kong and Macao, especially Hong Kong,” read an article published by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council in Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the Communist Party

of China (CPC) Central Committee.

The article said that by firmly sticking to the “one country, two systems” principle, the Party successfully dealt with problems that emerged during these years while maintaining the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong and Macao.

It added that the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core has firmly defended national sovereignty, security and interests when dealing with Hong Kong and Macao affairs since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012.

“‘One country, two systems’ lays the foundation of Hong Kong’s and Macao’s stability and development. However, the principle was challenged by several incidents in recent years,” Zhao Lei, a professor from the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

During the Occupy Central movement in 2014, Hong Kong students boycotted classes, hit the police and broke into the Hong Kong government headquarters, paralyzing the transportation system of the Asian financial hub and disturbing the normal life of residents.

In the most recent case, pro-independence posters appeared at Hong Kong universities in September. Pro- and anti-independence students confronted each other over each other’s posters.

The problem emerging in recent years is because Hong Kong’s status as an international financial hub has been challenged by the fastgrowing Chinese mainland. Some people in Hong Kong felt the gap and blame the mainland for the situation, Zhao said.

“The central government, however, is striving to provide Hong Kong with opportunities for its development. For example, the economy of Hong Kong which serves as the ‘super-connector’ of the Chinese mainland with other countries, will see a great leap by harnessing the opportunity of the Belt and Road initiative,” Zhang Dinghuai, a professor at the Contemporary Chinese Politics Research Institute of Shenzhen University, told the Global Times.

At the Fifth Session of the 12th National People’s Congress of China in March, Premier Li Keqiang said the central government will draw up plans for the development of a city cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to capitalize on the distinctive strengths of Hong Kong and Macao, elevating their roles in the development and opening-up of China’s economy.

Cheerful prosperity

The Qiushi article also said that people in Hong Kong and Macao are cheerful about the country’s prosperity, proud of being Chinese, sincerely respect the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core and full of expectations for the Chinese Dream.

Despite the disagreement of a small group of Hongkongers, the majority are welcoming and have benefited from the “one country, two systems” principle. They feel deeply connected to the motherland, Zhao said.

In July, China’s first aircraft carrier Liaoning held an open house in Hong Kong for the 20th anniversary celebrations of the region’s return to the motherland, attracting over 4,000 visitors and triggered a souvenir-buying spree.

The rule of law and enhancing people-to-people exchanges are also important for dissolving potential threats, the experts said.