July 1st, 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the People’s Republic of China. President Xi Jinping visited Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and delivered a speech, reviewing the successful experience of “one country, two systems”, expressing hopes for the new HKSAR government and all social sectors in Hong Kong, and conveying the affection from the mainland for the compatriots in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's return to the motherland on July 1st, 1997 marked the beginning of a new era for the region. Over the past 25 years, with the full support of the country and the joint efforts of the HKSAR government and people from all walks of life in Hong Kong, the success of "one country, two systems" has won recognition throughout the world.

-- “One country, two systems” has laid a solid foundation for the development of a democratic system in line with Hong Kong's reality. The central government has fully, faithfully, and unswervingly implemented the principles of “one country, two systems,” “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong,” and a high degree of autonomy. The SAR laws remain basically unchanged, and the executive power, legislative power, independent judicial power and final adjudication power are fully exercised by the SAR government. Hong Kong's electoral system has also been improved—the Election Committee election, Legislative Council election and Chief Executive Election finished smoothly under the new electoral system. The election of the sixth-term chief executive of the HKSAR government has been held ahead of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return. On May 8, candidate John Lee won the election with an overwhelming 1,416 votes, more than 99 percent of the total votes. Lee’s winning reflects Hong Kong people’s will and ushers in a new chapter for “patriots administering Hong Kong.” Hong Kong has enjoyed democracy and freedom that it never had during the British colonial period—at that time, Hong Kong was ruled by Governor Generals who were appointed by the British Monarchy, entirely followed orders from the British government and were endowed with supreme power in the city. 

-- Hong Kong has made noticeable economic accomplishments under “one country, two systems”.  Both the city’s GDP and its GDP per capita have doubled over the past 25 years. Hong Kong has been rated as the most competitive and free economy in the world and the most dynamic city in Asia by internationally renowned institutions for many times. It has also consolidated its status as an international financial center, shipping center, and business center. Hong Kong’s geographical advantage allows it to serve as a gateway for communication between the Chinese Mainland and the world, and benefited both from the support of the central government and the “dual circulation”. During the past 25 years, Hong Kong has gone through a lot: the Asian financial crisis in 1997, the SARS epidemic in 2003, the international financial turmoil in 2008 and the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic. Despite these challenges, Hong Kong has maintained overall stable development, which is inseparable from the strong support of the motherland under “one country, two systems”. 

--The successful implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong is a practice of the basic spirit of “one country, two systems”. For quite some time, anti-China forces have ramped up their efforts to contain China’s growth. Amid growing complexity both in the world and in Hong Kong, instigators have been challenging the authority of the Constitution and the Basic Law with violence, trying to seize power in Hong Kong through a colour revolution, in an attempt to derail the development of democracy in the SAR. This has a serious impact on the stability of Hong Kong and, by extension, the national security of China. However, after the Law of the PRC on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR was enacted in 2020, the chaos in the city was gradually put under control and the social order was restored—the National Security Law refuted the so-called confrontation and separation between “one country” and “two systems” fabricated by some people, deterred foreign forces and native trouble-makers, encouraged the patriots, and put the “one country, two systems” back to track. 

As President Xi pointed out in his speech on July 1st, “one country, two systems” has been tested repeatedly in practice. It serves the fundamental interests of not only Hong Kong and Macao, but also the whole country and the nation. It has gained wide support from the 1.4 billion-plus Chinese people including the residents of Hong Kong and Macao. It is also widely accepted by the international community. At a new starting point, the policy is poised to exhibit its even stronger vitality and unleash greater potential. With the backing of the central government and the privilege of “one country, two systems”, I have full confidence that an even more glorious future lies ahead for Hong Kong.