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Speakers:

Mr. Huang Liuquan, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council

Mr. Wang Linggui, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council

Chairperson:

Mr. Chen Wenjun, spokesperson of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC)

Date:

Sept. 20, 2022

Chen Wenjun:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. Today, we are holding the 34th press conference under the theme of "China in the past decade." We have invited Mr. Huang Liuquan and Mr. Wang Linggui, deputy directors of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, to brief you on the successful implementation of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong and Macao since the 18th CPC National Congress and take your questions.

Now, let's give the floor to Mr. Huang for his introduction.

Huang Liuquan:

Friends from the media, good morning. Thank you for your interest in and support for "one country, two systems" and the work related to Hong Kong and Macao. Alongside me at the press conference this morning is Mr. Wang Linggui. Before we take your questions, I would like to briefly introduce the implementation of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong and Macao. 

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has unswervingly stayed true to the letter and spirit of the "one country, two systems" principle, proactively responded to the changes inside and outside Hong Kong and Macao, taken a series of measures to address both symptoms and root causes of the problems, and worked to ensure the ship of "one country, two systems" breaks the waves and forges ahead, thus achieving historic accomplishments and transformations.

First, the theory of "one country, two systems" has broken new ground. General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward a series of new concepts, new visions and new strategies for "one country, two systems" and the work related to Hong Kong and Macao, raising the Party's understanding of "one country, two systems" to new heights. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that the fundamental purpose of "one country, two systems" is to safeguard China's sovereignty, security, and development interests and to maintain long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao; its top priority is to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and the more firmly the "one country" principle is upheld, the greater the strength of the "two systems" will unleash; the central government, in implementing the principle of "one country, two systems," will maintain two key points: first, the central government will remain resolute in implementing the principle, and will not change or vacillate in this stand; and second, the principle will be implemented precisely as it was originally intended; the rule of law must be maintained in Hong Kong and Macao, the central government's overall jurisdiction must be upheld while the special administrative regions' (SARs) high degree of autonomy must be secured, Hong Kong and Macao must be administered by patriots, and the distinctive status and advantages of Hong Kong and Macao must be maintained; the chief executives and the governments of the SARs in the driver's seats are the first to be held accountable for the governance of the regions; support will be provided to the SARs in their efforts to better integrate into the overall process of national development, and resolute actions will be taken to guard against and deter external interference in the affairs of Hong Kong and Macao; there is no reason to change the good policy of "one country, two systems," and it must be adhered to in the long run. These important statements of General Secretary Xi Jinping have enriched and developed the theory of "one country, two systems," provided fundamental guidance for the implementation of "one country, two systems" in the new era, and constitute the fundamental reason for the new achievements and developments in the work related to Hong Kong and Macao.

Second, the system of "one country, two systems" has been improved. With regard to the serious situation that occurred in Hong Kong, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, in its assessment of the situation then, reinforced the Party's centralized and unified leadership on the work related to Hong Kong and Macao; made the major decision of improving the exercise of the central government's overall jurisdiction over the SARs in accordance with the Constitution and the basic laws and improving the relevant systems and mechanisms of the two SARs for enforcing the Constitution and the basic laws; promoted the establishment and improvement of the legal systems and enforcement mechanisms for the two SARs to safeguard national security, the formulation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and the improvement of the electoral system of the HKSAR; and supported the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) in amending its law on safeguarding national security. All these have provided solid institutional safeguards for the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao as well as the steady implementation of "one country, two systems."

Third, Hong Kong and Macao have maintained their prosperity and stability. With strong support from the motherland, Hong Kong's economy has been thriving, and its status as an international financial, shipping and trading center has been maintained. Its innovative science and technology industries have been booming. Moreover, Hong Kong has remained one of the most free and open economies in the world, and has also maintained a world-class business environment. Its laws, including the common law, have been maintained and developed. Hong Kong has been ranked the world's freest economy more than 20 times in a row, and has long been ranked as one of the most competitive economies in the world. In addition, Hong Kong has ranked first for multiple times for total funds raised among the global Initial Public Offering (IPO) markets in the past decade. Greater efforts have been made in Macao to build "one center, one platform and one base" (namely a world center of tourism and leisure, a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and a base for exchange and cooperation where Chinese culture is the mainstream and diverse cultures coexist). Macao's efforts to appropriately diversify its economy have delivered early results. The rapid economic growth, improvement of people's well-being, and beautiful scenery of the city, highlight the remarkable achievements Macao has made in economic and social development. Facing the severe impact of the pandemic, the governments of the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, with the support of the central government, have adopted proactive and effective measures to mitigate difficulties for their peoples and promote economic recovery over the past more than two years. As a result, the SARs have been able to overcome difficulties, and make progress in all areas of their endeavors. 

Fourth, Hong Kong and Macao have accelerated their integration into the country's overall development. Significant achievements have been made in development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) which was planned, deployed and advanced by General Secretary Xi Jinping. For example, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and multiple ports have been put into operation. Efforts have been stepped up to establish major cooperation platforms in Hengqin (an island in Zhuhai city), Qianhai (a special cooperation zone in Shenzhen city) and Nansha (a district in Guangzhou city). Greater efforts have been made to synergize rules and mechanisms in the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao. The flow of production factors across borders has been accelerated. In addition, policies and measures have been improved to make it convenient for people from Hong Kong and Macao to develop their careers on the mainland. In the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Hong Kong and Macao have been serving as an important bridge and window between the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world. As a result, they have made irreplaceable contributions to the country's economic miracle marked by long-term, stable and rapid growth. 

As the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao have become more connected and more extensive exchanges and close cooperation have been carried out, greater patriotism and a stronger sense of national identity have been fostered among the people in Hong Kong and Macao. Hardships and challenges have made the people in Hong Kong and Macao aware that they have always maintained a close bond with the motherland in weal and woe. The ranks of patriots who love both the country and their regions have been strengthened. The mainstream values, which are characterized by love of both the motherland and Hong Kong and Macao and conform with the principle of "one country, two systems," have enjoyed growing popularity. Hundreds of thousands of young people from Hong Kong and Macao are studying, working and living on the mainland, writing a rewarding chapter in their lives with a stronger sense of national pride and awareness of their status as masters of the country. 

That's all for my introduction. Thank you.