The principle of "One Country, Two Systems" has turned out to be successful overall, as improvements have been achieved in residents' rights and freedoms as well as the independence of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)'s judicial system, said HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Saturday. 

According to China News Agency (CNA), in an article for the 30th anniversary of the promulgation of the Basic Law, Lam said that the Basic Law has protected the Hong Kong citizens' rights and freedoms in practical ways. She gave an example that there were over 11,000 protests and public gatherings organized in 2019, ten times that of 1997.

She said that the government of HKSAR respects all the gatherings and protests as long as they are carried out in a legal, peaceful way. 

The chief executive also pointed out that those freedoms are not absolute, but under the premises of respecting others and in accordance with the rule of law. If people only stress personal rights while disregarding the law, she said, the society could easily turn to a turmoil. 

The successful implementation of the Basic Law shows that the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" fits best with Hong Kong, Lam underscored. 

In another article marking the 30-year anniversary, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Luo Huining echoed on Saturday that "implementing the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems' and the Basic Law in a comprehensive and accurate manner is the only way to ensure the smooth and long-term successful practice of 'One Country, Two Systems.'"

Safeguarding the national security is also the core requirement for the comprehensive and accurate implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, Luo said.

"Safeguarding the national sovereignty, security and development interests and maintaining Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability are interdependent, and the two cannot exist separately," Luo said.

Hong Kong's long-term peace and stability can only be guaranteed by establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanism on safeguarding the national security, strengthening law enforcement, preventing and containing external forces from interfering in Hong Kong affairs and carrying out separatist, subversive, infiltrating and sabotage activities in the SAR region, Luo said.

The bottomline of the "One Country, Two Systems" principle was seriously challenged and the authority of the Constitution and the Basic Law faced unprecedented threats during Hong Kong's social unrest last year, Luo said.

The deep-seated social problems emerging in Hong Kong must be resolved and the time has come, Luo said.

Luo pledged to follow the direction of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, to unswervingly implement the "One Country, Two Systems" principle to make sure that it is fully applied in Hong Kong without being bent or distorted, and keep it advancing in the right direction.

More efforts will be made to improve the systems and mechanisms for the implementation of the Constitution and the Basic Law, including the central authorities exercising overall jurisdiction over Hong Kong, Luo said, adding that the constitutional order established by the Constitution and the Basic Law will be further protected.

Luo vowed to enhance education on the Constitution and the Basic Law, the national conditions, the Chinese history and culture in Hong Kong, especially for government personnel and young people, to raise national awareness and patriotism among Hong Kong compatriots.

(With input from Xinhua)