"Hong Kong has experienced its share of ups and downs during the past 20 years, and faces challenges and risks as well as opportunities and hopes in this stage."
President Xi Jinping, April 2017
Hong Kong returned to China 20 years ago, a handover that was accompanied by the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The past two decades have seen the city’s social and economic development progress smoothly, in cooperation and with the support from the central government.
Since becoming the Chinese president in 2013, Xi Jinping has addressed Hong Kong’s development and the mainland’s commitment to the SAR several times. What has he said? Here are the quotes from Xi that we'd like to share with you.
On basic policy
"The central government is determined to stick to the principles of ‘One Country, Two Systems,’ ‘Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong’ and a high degree of autonomy. That determination would not change or waver. "
President Xi Jinping, April 2017
President Xi made this assurance to Hong Kong when he met with Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, chief executive-elect of the HKSAR, in central Beijing.
Since Beijing resumed exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, the central government has firmly pursued the basic policy and upheld the rights and freedoms due to Hong Kong residents under the Basic Law. The high degree of autonomy enjoyed by the HKSAR is not an inherent power, but is derived from authorization by the central authorities.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, chief executive-elect of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing on April 11, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
On “One Country, Two Systems”
"The central authority's adherence to the principle will not change or waver, and efforts must be made to ensure the principle is comprehensively and correctly followed out in Hong Kong without any distortion."
President Xi Jinping, December 2015
President Xi made this guarantee to HKSAR Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who was in Beijing to report on his work over the previous 12 months.
"One Country, Two Systems" is a basic state policy the Chinese government has adopted to realize the peaceful reunification of the country. Hong Kong's return to China turned "One Country, Two Systems" from a theoretical concept into vivid reality. Despite some challenges, such as the Occupy movement in 2014, the progress made by Hong Kong has proved the implementation of the principle a great success that has brought the city prosperity and stability.
The national flag of China and that of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region flutter at Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong, China, on July 1, 2015. /CFP Photo
On Hong Kong-mainland exchanges
"The fate of the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao are closely linked. Mutual development and complementation are needed to achieve the Chinese Dream, which is the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."
President Xi Jinping, March 2013
President Xi made this observation when meeting Leung Chun-ying and Chui Sai On, chief executives of Hong Kong and Macao SARs respectively, during the first session of the 12th National People's Congress.
Beijing has always firmly backed Hong Kong’s pursuit of prosperity and stability. From the 1997 Asian financial crisis to the battle against the SARS epidemic, Hong Kong has been fully supported by the central government to face down all challenges.
Hong Kong’s exchanges and cooperation with the mainland have been enhanced over the past years. Since 2003, the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) and its ensuing 10 supplements have tightened trade, tourism and business ties.
In 2017’s annual government work report, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was put forward to further enhance connection and make full use of complementarity between Hong Kong and the mainland.
Hong Kong is also involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by President Xi in 2013, and works with the mainland to grasp opportunities to grow trade and financial services.
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