Beijing offers reassurances Hong Kong’s ‘one country, two systems’ principle will not change after 2047
- Shen Chunyao, chairman of Legislative Affairs Commission of National People’s Congress Standing Committee, renews Beijing’s pledge at forum on Basic Law
- One country, two systems policy will be retained so long as it makes timely improvements to plug loopholes, he tells forum
Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” governing principle will not change after 2047 if it is properly improved, a senior Beijing legal official has said, marking the strongest assurance from the nation’s top legislative body on the future of the policy.
Appearing at a legal forum on Friday via video conference, Shen Chunyao, chairman of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, renewed Beijing’s pledge to Hong Kong, one month ahead of the 25th anniversary of the city’s return from British to Chinese rule on July 1
“The principle of one country, two systems will undergo a long-term and steady development if the empirical experience proves it is successful, effective and popular,” said Shen, who also chairs the Basic Law Committee.
The one country, two systems principle, which is stipulated in the Basic Law, guarantees Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy for 50 years after reunification.
But Shen said the concept of the 50-year lifespan was “only a symbolic description” and there would not be changes to the principle after 2047.
In his keynote speech to the city’s senior officials and legal professionals, Shen cited Chinese President Xi Jinping and stressed the need for both the central and Hong Kong governments to keep the system “vital and effective” by responding to challenges and making improvements in a timely manner.