“One Country, Two Systems” Policy
“一国两制”点亮东方之珠
The Chinese Consul General in Johannesburg Tang Zhongdong Published a Signed Article
唐中东总领事在南主流报纸发表署名文章
6 July 2022
2022年7月6日
July 1, 2022 marks the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China. Twenty-five years ago, Hong Kong, “pearl of the orient”, was handed back to the embrace of China, wiping away the century-old humiliation of the Chinese nation and completing an important step towards China’s complete reunification. Since then, Hong Kong has reintegrated itself into the nation, embarked on a broad path of common development and mutual promotion with the mainland, and unfolded a new era of “one country, two systems” and “the people of Hong Kong governing Hong Kong” with a high degree of autonomy. With the strong support of the Central Government of China, Hong Kong, “pearl of the orient”, will shine even more brightly.
2022年7月1日是香港回归中国25周年纪念日。25年前的今天，香港回到中国的怀抱，洗刷了中华民族百年耻辱，完成了实现中国完全统一的重要一步。从此，香港重新纳入国家治理体系，走上了同中国内地优势互补、共同发展的宽广道路，开启了“一国两制”、“港人治港”、高度自治的历史新纪元。在党中央和中央政府的关怀支持下，香港这颗“东方之珠”将愈发光彩夺目。
During his visit to Hong Kong to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President of the People’s Republic of China, said that Hong Kong has always been in his heart and the heart of the Central Government of China. Over the past period, Hong Kong has withstood one severe test after another, surmounted one risky challenge after another, and reborn with greater vitality.
中共中央总书记、国家主席习近平到香港出席庆祝香港回归中国25周年大会暨香港特区第六届政府就职典礼时指出，我一直关注着香港，挂念着香港，我的心和中央政府的心始终同香港同胞在一起。过去一个时期，香港经受一次次严峻考验，战胜一个个风险挑战，历经风雨后，香港浴火重生，展现出蓬勃的生机。
I. Hong Kong has achieved world-acknowledged great development since its return
一、香港回归后发展成就举世瞩目
Under the great practice of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong has made remarkable achievements in its development over the past 25 years. Hong Kong’s economy has sustained steady growth, and its role as a significant international financial, shipping and trade center has been further consolidated. From 1997 to 2021, Hong Kong’s major economic indexes have doubled. Its GDP increased from HK $1.37 trillion to HK $2.86 trillion, and its per capita GDP rose from HK $192,000 to HK $387,100, and its fiscal reserves grew from HK $457.5 billion to HK $957.2 billion. In 2021, the average daily turnover of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s stock market was HK $166.7 billion, more than 10 times that of 1997.
回归25年来，在“一国两制”的伟大实践中，香港取得了举世瞩目的发展成就。香港经济实现持续稳定增长，国际金融、航运、贸易中心地位也得到进一步巩固。1997-2021年，香港本地生产总值从1.37万亿港元增长到2.86万亿港元，香港人均GDP由19.20万港元增至38.71万港元，财政储备从4575亿港元增长到9572亿港元。2021年，香港交易所现货股票市场日均成交金额达1667亿港元，是1997年的10倍多。
Over the past 25 years, the mainland and Hong Kong have deepened their economic and trade exchanges and cooperation at a higher level and in more fields, showing a good momentum of mutual integration and advancement. According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, the mainland-Hong Kong trade volume increased by 6.1 times from US $50.77 billion in 1997 to US $360.33 billion in 2021. By the end of 2021, the mainland had attracted more than US $1.4 trillion accumulative investment from Hong Kong, accounting for 57.6% of the mainland’s total inbound investment. The mainland’s accumulative non-financial direct investment in Hong Kong had exceeded US $800 billion, accounting for 53.2% of the mainland’s total outbound non-financial direct investment.
回归25年来，中国内地与香港的经贸交流合作也不断深化，水平不断提高，领域不断拓展，呈现出相融相生、互促共进的良好态势。中国商务部数据显示，1997—2021年，内地与香港贸易额由507.7亿美元增至3603.3亿美元，增长了6.1倍；截至2021年底，内地累计吸收香港投资超1.4万亿美元，占内地吸收外资总量的57.6%，内地对香港非金融类直接投资存量超8000亿美元，占内地对外非金融类直接投资的53.2%。
Hong Kong owes its prosperity and stability to the full support of the Central Government of China, as well as its mutual promotion with the mainland and connectivity with the rest of the world. By integrating into China’s overall development, Hong Kong has become an important participant in China’s domestic economic cycle and an important promoter of the integration of domestic and international economic cycles of China. With the ever-growing development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the trend of integrated development of Hong Kong and the mainland is becoming stronger than ever.
香港的繁荣稳定得益于党中央和中央政府的倾力支持，也根植于与内地的互促共进和与世界的互联互通。香港在融入国家发展大局中，既是受益者，又成为国内大循环的重要参与者和联通国内国际双循环的重要促进者。随着粤港澳大湾区建设向纵深发展，香港与内地融合发展之势日益强劲。
II. “One country, two systems” is the fundamental institutional guarantee for Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability
二、“一国两制”是香港繁荣稳定的根本制度保障
In his speech at the ceremony on July 1, President Xi Jinping pointed out that “one country, two systems” has been tested repeatedly in practice. “It serves the fundamental interests of not only Hong Kong and Macao, but also the whole country and the nation. It has gained wide support from the 1.4 billion-plus Chinese people including the residents of Hong Kong and Macao. It is also widely accepted by the international community. There is no reason for us to change such a good policy, and we must adhere to it in the long run”, he said.
习近平主席在7月1日庆祝大会上发言中指出，“一国两制”是经过实践反复检验了的，符合国家、民族根本利益，符合香港、澳门根本利益，得到14亿多中国人民鼎力支持，得到香港、澳门居民一致拥护，也得到国际社会普遍赞同。这样的好制度，没有任何理由改变，必须长期坚持！
The Communist Party of China (CPC) has masterminded and led the practice of “one country, two systems” and upheld it as a basic policy. It has been affirmed by each and every CPC national congresses and major conferences since 1980s and enshrined into the Constitution of China. It has also been legalized and institutionalized into the Basic Law of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The CPC Central Committee listed “one country, two systems” as an important part of the major achievements and historical experience of the CPC over the past century, as indicated in an historic resolution adopted in 2021.
中国共产党是“一国两制”方针和事业的创立者、领导者。“一国两制”作为中国共产党和中国政府长期坚持的一项基本政策，自二十世纪八十年代以来，一直被中国共产党历次全国代表大会和重要会议所确认，还被郑重载入中国宪法，并通过香港基本法予以制度化、法律化。2021年11月11日，中共十九届六中全会通过的《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》，把“一国两制”事业作为党百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的重要组成部分。
President Xi Jinping has made insightful remarks on the relationship between “one country” and “two systems” on many occasions. For example, he used the metaphor of “root” and “leaf”, saying that “only when the root is deep can the leaf be flourishing”. The Chinese government must adhere to the principle of “one country” and respect the differences of the “two systems”, safeguard the Central Government’s overall governance over the HKSAR and ensure a high degree of autonomy of the HKSAR, play well the role of the mainland as a staunch supporter of the Hong Kong and enhance Hong Kong’s own competitiveness. In the new era, the Chinese government must and will continue to accurately and fully implement the policies of “one country, two systems”. The government of HKSAR must and will implement the principle of “patriots governing Hong Kong”, safeguard the constitutional order of the HKSAR as stipulated in the Constitution and the Basic Law, safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests as well as the overall social stability of the HKSAR, and maintain the long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong.
习近平主席多次就 “一国”与“两制”关系作出精辟论述。比如，他曾以“根”与“叶”作喻，指出“根深才能叶茂”“本固才能枝荣”。要把坚持“一国”原则和尊重“两制”差异、维护中央对特区全面管治权和保障特区高度自治权、发挥中国内地坚强后盾作用和提高特区自身竞争力有机结合起来。新时代推进“一国两制”事业，必须继续坚定不移并全面准确贯彻“一国两制”、“港人治港”、高度自治的方针，坚持和完善“一国两制”制度体系，坚持依法治港，落实中央对香港特区全面管治权，落实特区维护国家安全的法律制度和执行机制，落实“爱国者治港”原则，维护宪法和基本法确定的特区宪制秩序，维护国家主权、安全、发展利益，维护特区社会大局稳定，保持香港长期繁荣稳定。
Facts have proven that “one country, two systems” has great vitality and is a good system for ensuring Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability and safeguarding the well-being of Hong Kong people. As long as the Chinese government and people adhere unswervingly to the principle of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong will have an even brighter future and make greater contribution to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
事实证明，“一国两制”具有强大生命力，是确保香港长期繁荣稳定、维护香港同胞福祉的好制度。只要毫不动摇坚持“一国两制”，香港的未来一定会更加美好，香港一定能为中华民族伟大复兴作出新的更大贡献。
III. The Law on Safeguarding National Security in HKSAR is the latest successful practice of “one country, two systems”
三、香港国安法是“一国两制”的最新成功实践
In the second half of 2019, some radical forces in Hong Kong openly advocated “Hong Kong independence” and attempted to split the country. They incited various violent protests, which injured a large number of police officers and innocent citizen and severely damaged governmental departments. The practice of “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong has encountered unprecedented challenges.
2019年下半年，香港反对派和一些激进势力公然鼓吹“香港独立”，试图分裂国家，煽动各种暴力抗争活动，造成大量维持秩序的警员和无辜市民受伤，政府部门遭到严重冲击和大肆破坏。“一国两制”在香港的实践遭遇前所未有的挑战。
On June 30, 2020, the 20th Session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress of China unanimously adopted the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Linzheng Yuee, HKSAR’s then Chief Executive, signed the document, and the Law on Safeguarding National Security in HKSAR came into effect that night, completely ending the disorder in Hong Kong.
2020年6月30日，中国十三届全国人大常委会第二十次会议全票通过《中华人民共和国香港特区维护国家安全法》。香港特首林郑月娥随即签署相关文件，香港国安法于当晚刊宪生效，由此彻底结束了香港的各种乱象。
The enactment and implementation of the Law on Safeguarding National Security in HKSAR has improved the “one country, two systems”, making it clear that the Central Government of China has the full authority to safeguard national security under the “one country, two systems” framework. The Law embodies the combination of the Central Government’s overall governance over HKSAR and the HKSAR’s high degree of autonomy. Over the past two years since the implementation of the Law, people have corrected the concept of favoring “two systems” over “one country”, and thus the Law laid a solid foundation and bottom line for “one country”. The implementation of the Law has not only effectively refuted the long-held fallacy between “one country” and “two systems” and between the Constitution and the basic law, but also brought “one country, two systems” back to its original aspiration and the right track.
香港国安法的制定实施完善了“一国两制”制度体系，明确国家安全属“一国两制”框架下的中央事权，体现了中央对香港全面管治权和特区高度自治权的有机结合。香港国安法实施两年来，人们纠正了偏向“两制”而淡薄“一国”的观念，筑牢了“一国”的根基和底线。香港国安法的实施不仅从法理上有效驳斥了反中乱港分子长期经营的将“一国”与“两制”、宪法与基本法对立、割裂的歪理邪说，更使“一国两制”回归初心与正确轨道。
The Law on Safeguarding National Security in HKSAR has established a political culture and consciousness consistent with “one country, two systems”. Over the past two years, the deterrence generated by the Law has warned exterior interference forces, cracked down on stubborn interior insurgents, encouraged those who truly loved China and Hong Kong and educated those who were hesitated in the middle. Facts have shown that the Law not only keeps the rule of law and judicial independence intact, but also brings about more confidence of Hong Kong people in judicial independence.
香港国安法构建了符合“一国两制”的政治文化与意识。两年来，香港国安法所产生的威慑力，警告了外部干预势力，打击了顽固的乱港分子，教育了中间观望人士，同时也鼓舞了爱国爱港力量。香港国安法实施一年来的实践表明，香港法治与司法独立不仅没有受损，而且随着法治环境的改善与秩序的恢复，人们对司法独立抱有更大信心。
The Law on Safeguarding National Security in HKSAR has built public consensus and established a national security education system compatible with the “one country, two systems”. During the implementation of the Law, the HKSAR Government incorporated national security education into the education system according to legal provisions, which made up for the lack of national security education in Hong Kong’s education for a long time.
香港国安法凝聚了社会共识，建立了与“一国两制”制度体系相适应的国家安全教育体系。在香港国安法的实施过程中，香港特区政府依据法律规定，将国家安全教育纳入教育体系之中，补足了长期以来香港教育中存在的缺乏国家安全教育的短板。
IV. Hong Kong’s tomorrow will be better
四、共同期待香港明天会更好
Backed by the mainland market and connected with the international market, Hong Kong enjoys unique development conditions. It has always been an important gateway for China’s interactions with the world and an international financial, shipping and trade center in the Asia-Pacific region. In recent years, with the national support, the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has provided Hong Kong with extremely broad development space and unprecedented development opportunities.
香港背靠国内市场又对接国际市场，拥有着得天独厚的发展条件，一直是中国对外交往的重要大门，也是亚太地区的国际金融、航运和贸易中心。近年来，在国家的规划支持下，粤港澳大湾区的建设为香港的发展提供了极其广阔的发展空间和前所未有的发展机遇。
The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core has high expectations for Hong Kong’s bright future. At the ceremony, President Xi Jinping expressed four hopes for the new HKSAR government and people from all walks of life. First, Hong Kong should further improve its governance and demonstrate a new atmosphere of good governance. Second, Hong Kong should continue to create strong impetus for growth and fully unleash the great creativity and vitality of Hong Kong society. Third, Hong Kong should earnestly address people’s concerns and difficulties and ensure that all citizens benefit more fairly from the city’s development. Fourth, the people of Hong Kong should work together to safeguard harmony and stability and jointly create a better life.
以习近平同志为核心的党中央对香港的美好明天寄予了深切期待。在庆祝大会上，习近平主席对香港特区新一届政府和社会各界人士提出4点希望：一是着力提高治理水平，展现良政善治新气象。二是不断增强发展动能，充分释放香港社会蕴藏的巨大创造力和发展活力。三是切实排解民生忧难，让发展成果更多更公平惠及全体市民。四是共同维护和谐稳定，共同创造更加美好的生活。
The HKSAR government and people from all walks of life are also full of confidence in a better future for Hong Kong. Li Jiachao, Chief Executive of the HKSAR’s sixth government, promises to lead the governing team to unite the whole society in Hong Kong, fully and accurately implement the principles of “one country, two systems”, “the people of Hong Kong governing Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy, uphold the constitution and the basic law to maintain constitutional order and safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, ensure the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and contribute to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
香港特区政府和各界人士也对香港的更好未来充满信心。香港特区第六任行政长官李家超表示，带领管治团队全力以赴，团结香港社会各界，全面准确贯彻“一国两制”、“港人治港”、高度自治方针，维护宪法和基本法确定的特区宪制秩序，维护国家主权、安全、发展利益，确保香港长期繁荣稳定，为实现中华民族伟大复兴作出贡献。
On the new journey to achieve China’s second centenary goal of realizing the great rejuvenation, Hong Kong has much to contribute. The Chinese people believe that with the great support of the mainland and the solid guarantee of “one country, two systems” and the Law on Safeguarding National Security in HKSAR, Hong Kong will absolutely make progress in political democracy, the rule of law, freedom, openness, inclusiveness, harmony, prosperity and stability. Keeping China in mind and facing the world, Hong Kong will certainly be able to create greater glory and make greater contributions to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
在中国人民和中华民族迎来从站起来、富起来到强起来的伟大飞跃中，香港同胞从未缺席。在实现我国第二个百年奋斗目标的新征程上，香港大有可为，也必将大有作为。中国人民坚信，有伟大祖国的坚定支持，有“一国两制”的坚实制度保障，有香港国安法的保驾护航，一个政治民主、法治健全、自由开放、包容和谐、繁荣稳定、胸怀中国、面向世界的香港，必定能够创造更大辉煌，为中华民族伟大复兴作出更大贡献！