Successful 'One Country, Two systems' policy helps on Taiwan
( 2003-08-22 11:00) (China Daily HK Edition)
The "One Country, Two Systems" policy has been successfully implemented in
Hong Kong, and has helped maintain Hong Kong-Taiwan relations, Hong Kong's
Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam said Thursday.
He made the remark during a meeting with a Taiwan delegation of the Alliance
for the Reunification of China, which is visiting Hong Kong.
The alliance
was set up in 1998 with the aim of promoting peaceful reunification of
China.
Lam told the delegation that the basic rights and freedoms
guaranteed under the Basic Law for Hong Kong people have been fully protected
since the territory's return in 1997, and the system of different aspects of
Hong Kong is operating smoothly.
On Hong Kong's relations with Taiwan,
Lam noted that Taiwan airlines could continue their flights between Hong Kong
and the island after 1997, and Taiwan businessmen could set up factories on the
mainland and get listed in Hong Kong.
This underlines clearly the
effectiveness of the "One Country, Two Systems" policy, he said.
Lam
noted that views were expressed last week in Taiwan that there were signs of
Hong Kong receding in political and economic development since 1997, and that
this was a result of the implementation of "One Country, Two Systems". "This is
plainly not the case," Lam said.
On constitutional development, he cited
the example that the proportion of directly elected seats in the Legislative
Council had been increasing progressively in accordance with the Basic
Law.
The number of directly elected seats had increased from 20 in the
first term to 24 in the second term. It would be further increased to 30 in
2004, accounting for half of the number of LegCo seats.
Lam said the
economic challenge faced by Hong Kong was a result of the Asian financial
crisis, and not related to the implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems"
policy.
Under the policy, Hong Kong has preserved a sound and open
financial system.
The Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement would
enable a variety of Hong Kong products to enter the mainland market duty-free
and would make room for service industries and professionals to tap the mainland
market.
It is the "One Country, Two Systems" policy that has provided the
foundation which enables Hong Kong to enjoy this special status and to
capitalize on this opportunity, Lam said.
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