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The 'one country, two systems' is alive in HK
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19:53, June 28, 2007
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Hong Kong has enjoyed a remarkable decade after its return to the
motherland.
Battered by unprecedented crises from the Asian financial crisis,
collapse of the real estate bubble, the avian flu and SARS (severe acute
respiratory syndrome) pandemic, one after the other following July 1,
1997, Hong Kong, with the generous support of the central government
stood solid as a rock.
A record five-year deflation did not shatter our economy nor our fighting
spirit. Right now, Hong Kong is enjoying a government budget surplus, an
economic growth rate of over 6 percent and an unemployment rate close to
3 percent. It is making great strides in becoming a world financial
center in the league of New York and London.
I do not want to boast any further, because to us Chinese, and to me, a
Chinese born having grown up in the territory formerly under British
colonial administration, the above are irrelevant. Hong Kong is part of
China and it should be part of it for better and for worse, and that is
that. Foreigners simply cannot appreciate the great shame and unpleasant
memories it would evoke should Hong Kong remain under British rule.
The year 1840 when the Opium War started and 1842 when the Treaty of
Nanjing was signed ceding Hong Kong to the British, marked the beginning
of a whole century of national humiliation and suffering. The People's
Republic was founded in 1949 when the Chinese people finally stood up,
but it took almost another 50 years before Hong Kong finally returned to
the motherland.
This peaceful unification was a historic event in China. Hong Kong is now
part of China, and it will stay that way forever. Like a marriage, there
will be good times and bad times, but together we will work things out.
Chen Zuo'er, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Office of the
State Council, recently told Hong Kong reporters, "one country" means
when one member is having trouble, all other members will chip in to
help. This is the true meaning of "one country". During all the horrific
crises, the central government and the neighboring provinces never turned
a blind eye. Instead they would selflessly offer generous and timely
assistance whenever asked by the government of Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HKSAR).
Under "one country" Hong Kong will inevitably become more Chinese, but
won't stymie Hong Kong's cosmopolitan appeal. Capitalism provided under
"two systems" ensures that Hong Kong will stay that way for a long period
of time.
People from more than 150 countries can enter Hong Kong without a visa,
and HKSAR passport holders can also travel to these countries freely.
Hong Kong citizens did not have such international mobility before 1997,
traveling under a British Nationals, overseas passport or a Certificate
of Identity. As Chinese citizens, we are now welcome everywhere in the
world, and when we have troubles abroad, we can always turn to our
helpful embassies and consulate offices. We were not that fortunate
before the handover.
Hong Kong under British rule enjoyed trade with the mainland and South
East Asia, attracting a lot of expatriates. Now the British officials are
gone, many business people from various nationalities have remained.
With China growing in double digit rates, and more friendly with ASEAN
countries, there are a lot more business opportunities for expatriates in
Hong Kong. That has been the case for the past decade, and that's what it
will be like in the future.
More multinationals set up regional headquarters in Hong Kong after the
handover, making it the commercial hub for the region. Without a doubt,
if not for mainland companies, especially their heavyweight IPOs, Hong
Kong's position in the global financial market would never be as
promising, and could not have attracted so many international high
flyers. If Hong Kong was still in British hands, I bet most of these
activities would have gone to Shanghai instead.
Many outsiders see Hong Kong and Shanghai as competitors. Yes, they are
competitors, but not in a zero-sum game. They are sister cities in a
family competing amicably for the common good. Everywhere you go in
Shanghai, you will find Hong Kong influence; and when you look subtly,
there is a shade of old Shanghai in all facets of Hong Kong life.
In the longer run, Hong Kong's contribution to the country's development
is not strictly confined to the amount of direct investment in the
mainland, even though to date it is still one of the largest sources of
investment. It lies instead in terms of its managerial and social impact.
Mainlanders visiting Hong Kong are invariably amazed by the efficient
traffic management there, and Hong Kong's MTRC is busily helping mainland
cities to manage their subway systems. In time, Hong Kong's highly
successful Octopus Card will be the model for debit card payment systems
throughout the country, making life easier for everybody. Hong Kong-style
cafeterias are springing up in major mainland cities, providing a taste
of the city to the people there.
The eight universities in Hong Kong provide several thousand scholarships
annually to mainland students, and there are also hundreds of Hong Kong
students studying in mainland universities. One in three marriages in
Hong Kong is between a Hongkonger and a spouse from the mainland. More
than 200,000 people cross the border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen every
day, making it the busiest crossing in the world.
"One country, two systems" is alive and kicking in Hong Kong. Seeing is
believing.
The author, from Hong Kong, is a member of the National Committee of the
Chinese People's Political Consultative Council
Source: China Daily/Agencies
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