"One Country, Two Systems" is an innovative concept that benefits one fifth of the world's population and will lead to the eventual reunification of the entire country, Tung Chee Hwa, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said on Monday.
Addressing the opening ceremony of World Association of Newspapers' Congress in Hong Kong, Tung said that the "One Country, Two Systems" concept has made possible the peaceful resolution of problem left over from history concerning sovereignty, life style and constitutional institutions.
Four years after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, thanks to the successful implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" policy, Hong Kong remains pluralistic, free, open and vibrant, Tung said.
The community is supported by a strong and independent judiciary, firmly committed to the rule of law, and has maintained a life-style entirely consistent with the past, and the government is a transparent and accountable one dedicated to doing the very best for the people of Hong Kong, Tung said.
As permitted by the "Basic Law" which provides the legal framework for the "One Country, Two Systems" concept, and as "Hong Kong, China", Hong Kong has maintained a separate customs territory and separately joined such international organizations as WTO and APEC.
In the past four years, Hong Kong has taken part in over 4,000 international conferences, and has also directly signed over 50 bilateral agreements with other countries, according to Tung.
In the past four years, Hong Kong people who had emigrated overseas before the handover have been returning in significant numbers, and in the year 2000, US$64 billion worth of foreign direct investments came into Hong Kong - the highest level among Asian economies, Tung said.
"The fact that people are 'voting with their feet and money' to come to Hong Kong is the best testimony to the confidence in "One Country, Two Systems" by the Hong Kong community and the world at large," Tung said.
Tung attributed the successful implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" policy to the whole-hearted support of the Hong Kong people and the Chinese people as a whole, and the central government's determination to uphold the principles and policies of the "One Country, Two Systems."
(chinadaily.com.cn 06/05/2001)
