People's Daily:

The 19th CPC Central Committee adopted at its fourth plenary session the Resolution on Upholding and Improving the Socialist System with Chinese Characteristics and Modernizing China's System and Capacity for Governance. It proposes that we will uphold and improve the system of "one country, two systems." What specific progress has been made in this regard? Thank you.

Wang Linggui:

Hong Kong and Macao have been reintegrated into China's governance system since they returned to the motherland. Upholding and implementing "one country, two systems," maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, and promoting the peaceful reunification of China are notable strengths of China's state governance system.

The central government has always unswervingly, fully and faithfully implemented the principle of "one country, two systems." That is to say, the central government will remain resolute in implementing the principle and will not change or fluctuate in this stance. Moreover, the principle will be implemented as it was initially intended. The central government has always adhered to law-based governance in Hong Kong and Macao, upholding the constitutional order established by the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the basic laws of the two SARs and improving the systems and mechanisms related to the implementation of the Constitution and the basic laws. We must both adhere to the "one country" principle and respect the differences between the "two systems." We must ensure both the central government's overall jurisdiction over the Hong Kong and Macao SARs and a high degree of autonomy in the two regions. We must both give full play to the role of the mainland as a staunch supporter of Hong Kong and Macao and enhance their own competitiveness.

For a time, the situation in Hong Kong was grim due to complex factors at home and abroad and rampant activities of destabilizing anti-China forces in the region. The CPC Central Committee has stressed that we must maintain our firm commitment to the letter and spirit of the "one country, two systems" principle, and uphold and improve its system. In accordance with the top-level design and overall plan made at the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, China has adopted the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) with resolve, fundamentally closing the systematic loopholes and marking an important milestone in the practice of "one country, two systems." We have established the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR according to the law, guided the setting up of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR and the designation of National Security Advisers for the committee, and authorized Macao's Committee for Safeguarding National Security to retain national security affairs advisers and national security technical advisers. We have systematically improved the electoral system in the HKSAR, laying a solid institutional foundation for safeguarding the security of the political power of the HKSAR and establishing a high-quality democratic system with Hong Kong characteristics. We have further improved the institutional mechanism by which the chief executive of the HKSAR is responsible to the central government. We support Hong Kong and Macao in their efforts to deeply dovetail themselves with the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and other national strategies involving the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. We support both regions as they grow their economies, improve people's lives and foster greater patriotism and stronger national consciousness among the people in the two regions. We resolutely prevent and contain external forces' interference in the affairs of Hong Kong and Macao and their separation, subversion, infiltration and sabotage activities. Through these important measures, we have upheld and improved the institutional system of "one country, two systems," laying a solid foundation for governing Hong Kong and Macao according to law and promoting the implementation of "one country, two systems" in a sound and sustained manner. 

Thank you.