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| Liu Xiaoming welcomes the guests |
By New Worker
correspondent
NCP
leader Andy Brooks joined hundreds of other guests at the Chinese embassy this
week at a reception called to mark the
20th Anniversary of the Return of Hong Kong to People’s China.
The Chinese ambassador, Liu Xiaoming, said
that the end of British rule “was a landmark in China's modern history. It was
a long-cherished wish coming true for generations of Chinese people, including
compatriots in Hong Kong.
“It was a significant achievement that
left its mark in the history of the Chinese nation.
“It was a pride for each and every Chinese
to see Hong Kong's bauhinia flag side-by-side with the five-star national flag.
Hong Kong's return to China is a milestone in the history of Hong Kong. After a
hundred years of ups and downs, Hong Kong finally rejoined the motherland.
“Hong Kong people have become the masters
of the land they call home. And Hong Kong has since entered into a new phase of
development.”
The Chinese ambassador said that
reunification had finally ended the historical obstacle to closer ties between
China and Britain, sending the bilateral relations onto a fast track.
“In the 20 years that followed, the
China–UK relationship grew from comprehensive partnership to comprehensive
strategic partnership, and then to a global comprehensive strategic partnership
for the 21st century. Now this relationship has entered a ‘Golden Era’,” Liu Xiaoming
said.
“In late 1970s, Mr Deng Xiaoping, the
courageous and insightful leader, first proposed the vision of ‘one country,
two systems’. This innovative framework was first applied to the Hong Kong
question.
“Twenty years on, ‘one country, two
systems’ has been hugely successful in Hong Kong and Macau.
“This policy has shown strong vitality. It
has been an enrichment to socialism with Chinese features in both theory and
practice. It opens up a creative new way for the peaceful reunification of
China. It heralds a new journey towards rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It
strengthens our confidence in achieving the ultimate unification of the Chinese
nation.
“Today, Hong Kong is the fourth biggest
financial centre, the fifth largest container port and the eighth biggest
trading entity in the world.
“Hong Kong is also making steady progress
in its democratic governance. From political stability, governance efficiency
and regulatory quality to the rule of law, control over corruption, right to
expression and accountability, many indicators are showing Hong Kong's
improvement over pre-handover years…
“…Hong Kong's return is a major innovation
in terms of social and political system.
"’One country, two systems’ is a
great invention. It allows the coexistence of the socialist and capitalist
systems within one country.”
This is unprecedented in human history. In
Deng Xiaoping's words: "Has any government in the history of the world
ever adopted a liberal policy like this? Has any western country in the history
of capitalism ever done anything like this?"
The successful practice of ‘one country,
two systems’ in Hong Kong shows that this solution proposed by China is
absolutely feasible. It is a daring and successful experiment with different
social systems.”
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