Communique reasserts principle that city should be governed by patriots

A wide range of opinion in Hong Kong and overseas has highlighted the Communist Party of China's role, efforts and achievements in restoring Hong Kong's order and improving the living standards of the Chinese people, which, they said, shed light on Hong Kong's future development and even that of the whole of humankind.

Their remarks came in response to the communique of the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, which was released on Thursday after the session concluded.

During the four-day meeting in Beijing, the CPC Central Committee reviewed the major historical achievements and experiences of the Party's endeavors over the past 100 years.

According to the communique, the CPC Central Committee adopted a series of measures to address both symptoms and root causes of relevant issues and resolutely implemented the principle that Hong Kong and Macao should be governed by patriots. These measures include introducing the National Security Law for Hong Kong in June 2020 and revamping the city's electoral system in March.

Tam Yiu-chung, a member of the National People's Congress Standing Committee from Hong Kong, said the communique made it clear that the central authorities will continue to support the steady implementation of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong and the city's rule of law.

The communique not only shows the central authorities' care for Hong Kong, but also charts a course for the city's future development. Only when the city's governing power is in the hands of those who love the country, can Hong Kong maintain its stability and prosperity, Tam said.

The principle of patriots administering Hong Kong needs to be fully implemented in the two upcoming elections－the 2021 Legislative Council general election on Dec 19 and the chief executive election on March 27, he said.

Irons Sze Wing-wai, permanent honorary president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association, said the communique shows the central authorities' faith in the city's future.

Sze said he hoped Hong Kong people could understand the central authorities' care for the city, seize development opportunities brought by the nation's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and give full play to the city's unique advantages under "one country, two systems".

Lau Siu-kai, vice-chairman of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, highlighted the central authorities' role in the steady implementation of "one country, two systems", saying the policy only works when the central government's overall jurisdiction over Hong Kong is synergistic with the city's high degree of autonomy.

Lau also said that past achievements of the CPC laid a solid foundation for the nation's brighter future.

Junichiro Kusumoto, a law professor at Toyo University in Japan, praised the CPC's remarkable achievements, saying that the "people-centered philosophy of development" is of importance to all of humankind.

"There is no doubt that China's current system has endured years of wind and snow and has realized a nation that continues to develop remarkably," he said.

Salman Bashir, a former foreign secretary of Pakistan and former ambassador to China, said China, under the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC, will become more economically prosperous and will be more beautiful.